Effective March 13, lockdown measures will recede in Newfoundland and Labrador, as the province emerges from a month-long battle with coronavirus variant B117.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said any further reductions in restrictions will happen slowly, with at least two weeks between level downgrades.
Most of the province will enter Alert Level 3 on Saturday, and the harder-hit Avalon Peninsula will drop to Alert Level 4.
Everyone living outside the Avalon has already spent almost two weeks at Level 4 and will now move to Level 3 on Saturday.
For those residents, households may have a total of 10 close contacts, which Fitzgerald on Wednesday dubbed a “tight 10.”
“Outside of your tight 10, your school-age children should only be interacting with their class cohort at this time,” she said.
There’s good news for anyone wanting indoor exercise, though. Gyms can open, along with arenas, pools and other recreational facilities. All those workouts need to be done solo, however, with group classes and team sports still off the table.
No more than 20 people can enter a facility, and they must keep masks on, even while exercising.
Residents of nursing homes can also now welcome two visitors.
Restaurants can also open their dining rooms.
Bars and cinemas will not open yet.
Funerals and religious gatherings can now welcome 20 people, with masks on always.