COVID-19 surge coming to Newfoundland and Labrador: health officials

Newfoundland and Labrador’s health minister is warning of a coming surge in COVID-19 cases.

John Haggie said Tuesday he would reveal the province’s projections on Wednesday.

As well, Haggie is urging the province’s population to stay home during the Easter long weekend, which typically sees families travelling to cabins and gathering at religious services.

Haggie’s warnings came Tuesday as the province revealed it had recorded two more cases of COVID-19, bringing the province’s total to 228 confirmed cases.

Two people in the province have died from complications caused by the virus, and seven remain in hospital — two of them in intensive care.

Earlier in the day, Nova Scotia reported its first death related to COVID-19 — a woman in her 70s with underlying medical conditions.

Premier Stephen McNeil issued a statement saying the woman died Monday in a hospital in eastern Nova Scotia.

“I had hoped this day would never come and I’m deeply saddened that a Nova Scotia family is going through this,” McNeil said. “My deepest condolences go to the family and friends who are grieving today.”

Nova Scotia was the last province in Canada to report its first case of COVID-19. That was on March 15. The province declared a state of emergency a week later.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2020.

The Canadian Press