COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, April 30

Prince Edward Island has two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 as the week draws to a close, the Chief Public Health Office said Friday.

A new report suggests P.E.I. should collaborate with other islands around the world to reconsider how its tourism industry works in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Island tourism officials say it's too early to say what the end result will be, but so far unique visitors to the Tourism P.E.I. website from Newfoundland and Labrador are up compared to 2019.

More than 50 per cent of members of the class of 2018 that graduated from Maritime universities have had their jobs affected by the pandemic, according to a survey by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission.

Two people have been charged under the Public Health Act over an alleged illegal entry into Prince Edward Island.

In her weekly check in, Compass host Louise Martin speaks with Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison about plans for the AstraZeneca vaccine, concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, and enforcement for those who break public health rules.

Downtown Charlottetown Inc. is expanding an annual program that provides grants to businesses that are making improvements to the outside of their buildings. With public health restrictions limiting the availability of indoor space, executive director Dawn Alan said it made sense to support businesses creating outdoor spaces.

For the first time in two years, Fisherman's Wharf Lobster Suppers will be opening its doors to customers in North Rustico next month.

The Atlantic premiers suspended talks on the Atlantic bubble.

Organizers of the East Coast Music Awards are planning another virtual ceremony to honour the Atlantic region's best musical talents. 

Northumberland Ferries will resume service Monday, but it will carry only large commercial trucks between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia because the Atlantic bubble has not reopened, and the number of runs will be limited.

P.E.I. currently has 12 active cases of COVID-19 and has had 181 positive cases. There have been two hospitalizations and no deaths.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic region Wednesday:

• Nova Scotia announced 67 new cases of COVID-19 Friday for a total of 589 active cases.
• Newfoundland and Labrador confirmed two new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and has 27 active cases. 
• New Brunswick had 10 new cases Thursday, and there are 118 active cases.

Also in the news

• At her regular COVID-19 briefing Tuesday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison warned Islanders to take heed of what is happening in Nova Scotia in the third wave of the pandemic.
• Charlottetown-Belvedere MLA Hannah Bell wants the tourism minister to expand the eligibility for the $3 million tourism activation grant program.
• The province is still waiting for information from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization before it makes a decision on how to complete immunization of some young people who have already received a dose of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine.
• Despite travel restrictions and rising COVID-19 cases, some campgrounds on P.E.I. are still receiving calls from optimistic folks in Ontario, Quebec and the U.S. hoping to pitch their tents or park their campers on the Island this summer.

These Islanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over 40.
• Islanders over 16 with underlying medical conditions, and all eligible members of their household.
• Pregnant Islanders.
• Front-line workers over 16 who interact with the public and cannot work virtually.
• People providing health-care services to the public — including optometrists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists — and their support staff.
• Health-care workers not on the front line needed to maintain health-care system capacity
• Firefighters, police officers, power-line workers.
• Residents and staff of long-term care homes.
• Adults living in Indigenous communities.
• Residents and staff of shared living facilities.
• Truck drivers and other rotational workers.

You can find more information about how to get a vaccine here.

Further resources

• Here is a chart of COVID-19 cases on P.E.I. since March 2020, and a timeline of pandemic events.
• Here is a look at how coronavirus is spreading across Canada.

Reminder about symptoms

The symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

• Fever.
• Cough or worsening of a previous cough.
• Possible loss of taste and/or smell.
• Sore throat.
• New or worsening fatigue.
• Headache.
• Shortness of breath.
• Runny nose.

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