Before Wednesday, the highest single-day total in N.L. was 32 — last March
Newfoundland and Labrador reported 53 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, and 32 presumptive cases. The vast majority of the people who tested positive were under age 20, health officials said.
It was by far the largest single-day increase since the first case in the province was identified in March. Before Wednesday, the highest single-day total was 32, on March 25.
"We've had our few practice runs in Deer Lake, and Harbour Breton and Grand Bank. And now here we are with the with the big one. So we really need to start taking this seriously," said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald during an afternoon update.
"I believe that going so long with low case counts of COVID led to complacency and we are now seeing the repercussions."
Almost all new cases were identified in the province's Eastern Health region, with the exception of one that involved a person who lives in the jurisdiction but tested positive in the Central Health region,