ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador officials are waiting at least another week to relax public health restrictions following a surge in COVID-19 cases that began in late December.

Health Minister John Haggie told reporters today the province will remain in Alert Level 4, which requires all households to limit their contacts to 10 people, among other rules.

The province moved to Alert Level 4 on Jan. 4 and will stay there until at least Jan. 24, when officials will review the restrictions once again.

Haggie says there are cases confirmed among staff or residents at around 80 of the long-term care facilities in the Eastern Health region, which includes the capital, St. John's.

He says there are 15 people across the province hospitalized because of COVID-19, which is one person shy of the record of 16 patients set on Oct. 17.

Officials are reporting 239 new cases of COVID-19 today, a notable drop from the average of about 630 cases a day reported between Jan. 4 and Jan. 14.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2022.

The Canadian Press