P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison is giving the latest on the COVID-19 situation on P.E.I. Watch it here, or on the CBC P.E.I. Facebook page.
Morrison announced four new cases of COVID-19, including a female in her 20s and three males, two in their 20s and one in his 30s. None travelled recently outside the province.
The four are all close contacts of the seven positive cases announced on weekend. The source of the outbreak is still not known.
P.E.I. now has 14 active cases, and 84 cases total for P.E.I. since the outbreak began.
Acting ‘hard, fast and early’
“I continue to be worried about what is happening with COVID-19 in our province,” Morrison said. “If we do not act now it may take us longer to recover and we may have more devastating impacts.”
“It’s important to do it hard, fast, early.”
No visitors will be permitted at Health PEI locations including hospitals, although they may have a designated Partner in Care, said P.E.I. Chief Nurse Marion Dowling. Exceptions are being made for Islanders at the end of their lives. Newborns may have more than one parent.
We are “encouraging everyone to stay united by staying apart,” said P.E.I. Premier Dennis King. “I think Islanders are eager to do their part and we certainly appreciate that.”
The province said there will be another update with P.E.I. Minister of Social Development and Housing Ernie Hudson and Tourism Minister Matthew MacKay later today.
Circuit breaker for 2 weeks
P.E.I. imposed sweeping new public health measures Monday morning after seven new cases of COVID-19 were announced over the weekend.
The Wendy’s and A&W restaurants on University Avenue in Charlottetown closed temporarily Saturday after staff members tested positive for COVID-19. All three are women in their 20s who work at the restaurants and are close contacts of each other.
Four more cases — three women in their 20s and one in her 30s — were announced Sunday and are connected to the three announced on Saturday.
P.E.I. Premier Dennis King has asked all Islanders in the capital region between the ages of 20 and 29 to get tested, even if they have no symptoms.
All P.E.I. school sports and extra-curricular activities have been temporarily suspended, and four high schools will move to remote learning.
P.E.I. has 11 active cases. There have been 80 positive cases since the onset of the pandemic, with no deaths and no hospitalizations.
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