Office of the Official Opposition
For Immediate Release

St. John’s, NL (June 5, 2020) – PC Opposition Leader and MHA for Windsor Lake, Ches Crosbie today said the government is not striking the right balance between the very low COVID-19 risk and pressing economic issues.

“We live in a democracy”, Crosbie said, “and that means the government needs to engage the public in discussion about the right balance between the very low risk of virus in the community and the very high risk of destruction of jobs and business activity”.

Crosbie said the provincial Liberal government has tied its alert level plan to pre-set dates instead of to risk indicators like new cases, deaths and hospital capacity and is giving inadequate weight to the damage to the economy. “Many think that having flattened the curve we are now flattening the economy. We need a debate about the public health risk presented by business bankruptcy, widespread unemployment and poverty”.

Government expert Dr. Rahman stated in a public briefing last Friday that the likelihood of COVID-19 in the Newfoundland and Labrador community is “very, very low.” As of today, only two active cases are known.

Contacts:

Bradley Russell

Director of Policy and Research

(p) 1.709.729.3668

BradleyRussell@gov.nl.ca

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