COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Wednesday, April 28

Prince Edward Island officials confirmed two more cases of COVID-19 in a news release Wednesday afternoon. 

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.

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 driver of a tractor trailer was issued a $1,000 ticket Monday for violating Prince Edward Island's Public Health Act, Charlottetown police say.

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.

P.E.I. currently has 11 active cases of COVID-19 and has had 179 positive cases, including the latest two, announced Wednesday. There have been two hospitalizations and no deaths.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic region Wednesday:

• Nova Scotia announced 75 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday for a total of 489 active cases.

• Newfoundland and Labrador confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 and has 27 active cases. 

• New Brunswick has eight new cases, and there are 122 active cases.

Also in the news

• Demand for lobster looks good and there is no inventory from 2020 left, bringing hope for a strong lobster season.
• A 39-year-old Prince County man who was supposed to be in self-isolation under COVID-19 rules has been charged with failing to provide a breath sample after police in Kensington suspected him of impaired driving.
• After struggling through 2020, P.E.I. vehicle dealerships have seen a strong start to 2021, and trucks are leading the way.
• A count of homeless people was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, but it is going ahead on P.E.I. this week.
• A tree in downtown Charlottetown has become a place for people to share their grief and gratitude through what has been a difficult year for many.

These Islanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over 50.
• People 40 to 49, with birthdays in the months of January to September.
• 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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