ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador has held steady at 20 for the past three days, after reaching a new height of 25 on Tuesday.
Provincial health officials said in a news release today that nine of the patients currently hospitalized are in critical care, which is down from 11 on Tuesday.
They reported 258 new confirmed infections today, with 18 per cent of PCR tests completed since Thursday yielding a positive result.
Provincewide health restrictions are set to loosen on Monday, allowing bars and lounges to open for the first time in more than six weeks.
They were closed on Dec. 23 when the province moved to a heightened state of public health restrictions as the Omicron variant drove COVID-19 cases skyward.
Beginning Saturday, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to self-isolate upon arrival, though they will have to take a rapid test each day for the first five days after they arrive.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 4, 2022.
The Canadian Press
