A single visitor or support person is now allowed for all patients in hospitals and long-term care in the province.

The Regional health authorities provided an update yesterday, June 10.

Visiting hours will be determined by each facility and the designated visitor or a support person should contact the person’s caregivers for further information.

All designated visitors will be provided with information on the screening process in place, the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and the use of personnel protective equipment.

New mothers can have one support person who can stay for the duration of the mother and newborns stay and can visit as many times as they like.

Patients in intensive care can have two support persons with them at the same time.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald understands the importance of visitation, especially to those in long-term care, but says that population is also the greatest risk.

She says that long-term care are particularly susceptible to severe illness, and “we don’t have to look very far to see the consequences of COVID-19 getting into one of these facilities.

Labrador Marine Inc. would like to announce that they will start their operations to the North Coast this Sunday, June 14, 2020.

Peter Woodward is the LMI (Labrador Marine Incorporated) President and CEO of Woodward’s Group of Companies.

He says the shipping terminal at the Port in Goose Bay began accepting freight for delivery to the north coast on Monday, June 8 at 8 AM.

Shippers should note that most procedures around freight acceptance and shipping have changed as a result of measures put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Consult the Labrador Marine website at www.labradormarine.com for detailed procedures around shipping for 2020 and for any changes that might be implemented during the season.

Click here to find out more information.

The Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation made a difficult decision to postpone its 2020 Janeway Children’s Miracle Network Telethon.

The health and safety of all those involved in the two day fundraising event is the Foundations priority.

Taking into consideration the concerns in the community surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic at this time, the Telethon will be delayed until the fall, the weekend of October 3 and 4th.

Once again NTV will broadcast from 3 locations – St. John’s, Grand Falls-Windsor and Corner Brook.

The Annual Telethon is held the last weekend in June.

“The health of our donors and volunteers is paramount to us,” says Lynn Sparkes, President and CEO of Janeway Foundation.

“In light of the uncharted territory in which we all find ourselves presently around COVID-19, we feel postponing the Telethon is a right move at this time.”

We hope our Newfoundland and Labrador population will once again rally their support for our children’s health care in this falls Telethon. The need is going away.

Last year’s Telethon raised $3.5 million for pediatric health care.

Courtesy of NTV news.

The senior’s van is almost ready to start the 2020 season.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak the senior’s van will operate with new restrictions to protect both the seniors and the driver.

Please note the following stages:

• Rides will now be limited to 2 rides a day
• Only one senior at a time will be permitted in the van. Exceptions will be made for couples or seniors living in the same household as well as medical escorts.
• Seniors are asked to call well in advance of appointments to allow for proper scheduling of rides.
• If you need medication picked up, the driver will pick them up for you, please let us know if you need this service.
• Masks must be worn at all time when in the seniors van.
• Seniors must sit in the back; no one is permitted to sit in the front with the driver.

In addition, to the changes regular Senior’s van rules still apply.

• Alcohol is not permitted in the van at any time.
• Anyone under the influence of alcohol will not be permitted in the van.
• Abuse of the driver or Phone Operator will not be tolerated.

The hours of operation will be from 8 am – 5 pm, Monday to Friday.

We realize that some changes may be drastic but we must do what we can to provide the seniors van service safely and effectively for everyone involved.

If you have any questions please feel free to call the NICG office.

Yesterday the province announced that there were no new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The total number of confirmed cases in the province remains at 261.

The regional breakdown of the 261 cases is as follows:

• Eastern Health – 243
• Central Health – 8
• Labrador-Grenfell Health – 6
• Western Health – 4

Fifty-two per cent of cases are female and forty-eight per cent are male.

One person is in hospital due to the virus.

Two hundred and fifty-six people have recovered.

There have been three deaths from COVID-19.

To date, 13,755 people have been tested.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are reminded to follow the public health orders and directives issued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

In Alert Level 3, individuals should continue to practice good infection prevention and control practices.

The Nunatsiavut Government is looking for answers as to the cause and potential impacts of a fuel slick in the coastal water near the Inuit Community of Postville.

“What we know right now is a slick, involving as much as 3,000 litres of fuel, appeared in the harbour and was found along the shoreline yesterday morning, and that the Canadian Coast Guard is assessing the situation,” notes Nunatsiavut’s First Minister and Ordinary Member for Postville, Tyler Edmunds.

The Nunatsiavut Government is concerned about possible impact to the surrounding environment, fish, birds, and other wildlife, adds Lands and Natural Resources Minster Greg Flowers, and will assist the Coast Guard wherever it can in its investigation.

“This is very concerning, as there are still many unanswered questions,” says Minster Flowers. “We are monitoring the situation very closely and have been in regular contact with the Coast Guard. Hopefully we will have some answers soon, and that steps are taken to immediately remediate any environmental impacts.”

There was an oil spill near the community of Postville.

This oil spill is very concerning, as the community of Postville are exposed to the smell in their community.

We spoke with Lela Evans who is the MHA for the Labrador District.

We were in touch with Lela yesterday to find out more about the oil spill.

Right now the Coast guard is currently in Postville, and the investigation is ongoing.

Click here to find out more; once we get more coverage about this oil spill we will have another update.

The Nunatsiavut Government wishes to advise Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement the assistance under the COVID-19 Emergency Food Supplement Program has been extended to the week ending August 29, 2020.

The purpose of the Emergency Food Supplement Support Program is to ensure individuals and families impacted by COVID-19 and those most vulnerable to the virus have sufficient nutritious food to support their health and wellness. Adequate nutrition is crucial for maintaining good health and having the ability to fight off infection.

Priority is given to seniors (60 years and older) on fixed incomes, person with disabilities, single parents, low income families (receiving income support, living on fixed pension incomes or employment insurance), and individuals and families who have had their employment hours cut or have been laid off because of the pandemic.

Many Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement have returned (or will soon be returning) to work. This may result in changes to family unit income levels.

Beneficiaries receiving assistance under any of the Nunatsiavut Government’s COVID-19 emergency response initiatives whose income and employment status may have changed are required to provide the updated information to the Nunatsiavut Government.

The Nunatsiavut Government appreciates the co-operation of all Beneficiaries to ensure assistance is provided to those with the greatest needs.

As of Yesterday there were no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province.

The province is at 11 days straight without a confirmed case of COVID-19.

The total number of confirmed cases in the province is still at 261.

To date, 13,449 people have been tested.

Newfoundland and Labrador entered Alert Level 3 Monday, as a further easement of public health measures allowed many stores and businesses to reopen to the public, and if all goes well, the province’s chief medical officer suggests there could be movement toward the next alert level sooner than expected.

Previously, the province has waited 28 days — four weeks — to move from one alert level to the next. During Monday’s update on COVID-19 numbers in the province, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said Newfoundland and Labrador could conceivably move to Alert Level 2 in three weeks instead of four.