COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Tuesday, May 4

The COVID-19 variant first identified in India has been detected in two P.E.I. patients, and most Island residents who have been travelling will now have to file online isolation plans before they return home.

Islanders returning to the province now have to submit an isolation plan in advance

CBC News · Posted: May 04, 2021 6:02 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 4, 2021

The Islanders are one of eight teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs this year. Six teams — Quebec, Chicoutimi, Val d'Or, Rimouski, Victoriaville and Blainville — will be facing off in Quebec City, where the semifinals and final will be held. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

Prince Edward Islanders returning to the province now have to submit an isolation plan online in advance, Dr. Heather Morrison said at her regular weekly briefing. There are some exemptions, though.

She also said the Island has one more case of COVID-19, though the number of active cases has fallen to seven since the previous update on Sunday. As well, Morrison said P.E.I. has confirmation that two previous cases involved the B1617 variant first identified in India.

A large-scale study launched 12 years ago to help researchers learn more about the health of Atlantic Canadians has started to harvest data about COVID-19. Toenails are involved.

Fans of the Charlottetown Islanders won't be able to watch any QMJHL playoff games at home this spring. Due to COVID-19 safety measures, the Maritime Division final between the Islanders and Acadie-Bathurst Titan will be played in Shawinigan, Que., beginning this weekend.

Public health enforcement officials are being kept busy with phone tips, and Charlottetown police recently issued another $1,000 ticket for a large gathering.

P.E.I. has been approached as a possible host for the International Ice Hockey Federation women's world championship Aug. 20-31, tourism officials say. The tournament, originally scheduled for Nova Scotia, was cancelled last month due to COVID-19.

The owner of the Brackley Drive-in says he's optimistic but also concerned about the season ahead. The drive-in opened last weekend, its earliest yet.

Conservation officers on P.E.I. are spending a lot of time following up on calls from the public about people allegedly entering the province illegally and others who aren't following public health measures.

Outbreaks around the Maritimes have prompted the organizers of the 70-Mile Yard Sale in eastern P.E.I. to cancel for the second year in a row.

Charlottetown police handed out another $1,000 fine for hosting a large gathering in defiance of COVID-19 public health rules, the force said in a news release on Monday.

The University of Prince Edward Island is citing the pandemic as one reason it is keeping this year's tuition increase to just one per cent. Holland College announced last week that it is raising its tuition rates by two per cent.

The facade of a brick building. — Both Holland College (shown) and UPEI have now set their tuition rates for the fall, when administrators are hoping for a more normal learning environment. (Laura Meader/CBC)

P.E.I. student loan payments are being suspended this year from April 30 to Sept. 30.

The Summerside Farmers' Market is considering its options after a man refused to wear a mask on the premises this weekend, calling market staff "idiots" for wearing them.

After a year-long delay because of the pandemic, the City of Charlottetown has scheduled a public meeting to talk about options for licensing and regulating short-term rentals. It takes place May 17.

P.E.I. has seven active cases of COVID-19. There have been 183 positive cases in total, with two hospitalizations and no deaths.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic region:

Nova Scotia announced 153 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, and said two people died at home from the disease, one in their 50s and the other in their 70s. The province has 1,060 known active cases.
New Brunswick is reporting four new cases, and 850 people across the province in self-isolation. There are 141 active cases.
Newfoundland and Labrador has four new COVID-19 cases, at least three of them related to travel. There are still 56 active cases in the province.

Also in the news

As the second summer of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches on P.E.I. with an uncertain tourist season ahead, one Island company is making it possible for would-be Japanese tourists to come for a visit — virtually.
Many members of the Island LGBTQ community took part in a COVID-friendly fashion show Saturday in Summerside to highlight the importance of safe spaces.
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.

These Islanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

People aged 30-39 with birthdays from January to June.
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.