With COVID -19 caseloads dropping, NL is easing some Public Health Restrictions.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said yesterday during the briefing, she is incredibly proud to say that our province vaccination rate is among the highest in North America.
Last Saturday, the province eased off some of its health restrictions, increasing capacity at indoor and outdoor formal gatherings where proof of vaccine is required including theatres, cinemas and arenas.
For venues with no eating or drinking, full capacity is allowed for spectators in seats with no physical distancing, Fitzgerald said. When not seated, physical distancing still applies. Masks must be worn at all time unless eating or drinking.
Formal gatherings are those organized by a recognized business or organizations. Informal gatherings, such as parties at home are still limited to a number of people who could fit in a space while allowing social distancing.
With an indication of a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, Fitzgerald says the COVID0-19 virus is on the path to being endemic rather than pandemic – i.e., less widespread, adding there’s unlikely to be a big finish but rather gradual steps until normalcy is reached.
She added with the provinces high vaccination rate – creeping toward the 90% mark, which was a target set at the national level, discussions are happening about the easing of restrictions when that mark is reached. And with children under 12 years old remains unvaccinated is still a concern but hopes that will change soon with Health Canada set to approve Pfizer-BionTech doses for the children.
It is still very important to get those children vaccinated for us to have really good protection from the population. Once Health Canada approval comes, the vaccine rollout for under 12-year-olds will take about 6 months.
Dr. Fitzgerald added this morning Thursday, November 18, that they hope the rollout would be able to start before the end of this year, and get most of the children their first shot in early 2022.
And how long it will take to get their second doses administered will depend on recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.