COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Tuesday, June 8

Restaurants in P.E.I. must deal with another summer of COVID-19 restrictions — and some businesses may not make it through the season, according to an industry group.

A long-time business owner on P.E.I. says more needs to be done for the tourism industry for some businesses to survive the summer.

A beluga whale that drew plenty of visitors, as well as police enforcing COVID-19 measures, to Mount Stewart appears to have swam back to sea.

The publisher of this year's Rotary Supplement on P.E.I., the 33rd annual edition, knew there was no ignoring the COVID-19 pandemic this year, so he made it the publication's theme instead.

P.E.I.'s chief epidemiologist is taking on a new study to find out how COVID-19 restrictions affected access to health services for Black communities in the province.

The Fall Flavours Festival plans to return this autumn as COVID-19 restrictions ease up in the province.

Employees at Amalgamated Dairies Limited who get the COVID-19 vaccine are receiving $50 gift cards as an incentive in what company officials are calling a win-win.

There have been 206 cases of COVID-19 on P.E.I. and five are considered active. There have been no deaths and two hospitalizations.

Elsewhere in Atlantic Canada: 

• Newfoundland and Labrador has confirmed its seventh death from COVID-19, a man over the age of 70, as it reported three new cases Tuesday. There are 62 active cases.  
• Nova Scotia reported 17 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 171 active cases.
• New Brunswick has only one new case for the second day in a row, and 99 active cases.  

Also in the news

• The 17 legions on P.E.I. have lost a lot of members over the last year, but remain hopeful they will come back once the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions ease.
• The first step in Prince Edward Island's reopening plan began Sunday, including allowing larger private gatherings.
• Some Islanders are feeling anxiety about society reopening again this summer, and P.E.I. psychologist Dr. Jackie Roche says that's normal. 
• There have been no new cases of COVID-19 reported on P.E.I. since Thursday, when the Chief Public Health Office reported two new cases of COVID-19.
• P.E.I. Chief of Nursing Marion Dowling says Island vaccine rates are on target, with 60 per cent of its targeted population 12 and over having received at least one dose.
• The P.E.I. government has the right to ask for proof of vaccination at the border, says the provincial privacy commissioner.

These Islanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over 12.
• Islanders over 18 can book an appointment for Moderna vaccine at a pharmacy.

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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