COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Wednesday, March 17

The four Atlantic premiers were scheduled to meet virtually Wednesday night to discuss reopening the Atlantic bubble.

A professor at the University of Prince Edward Island has developed a method to help curtail plagiarism, which he says has become more problematic after universities were forced to pivot abruptly to online learning and exams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic may have halted many St. Patrick's Day events last year, but on Wednesday at a church in Cardigan, seniors were celebrating. 

The head of the P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association wants confirmation on who will pay for a three-day quarantine for temporary foreign workers. 

The pandemic left Summerside's Credit Union Place $1.2 million short in revenue.

Islanders between the ages of 18 and 29 who work at convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores can now start to book appointments to get a COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.'s chief public health officer, said in her regular weekly COVID-19 update Tuesday.

Another 4,100 Canada's Food Island gift cards were sold at a discount on Monday, the first day in 2021 that they've been offered at 20-per-cent off face value.

Despite having relied on international students to keep enrolments up in recent years, Maritime universities recorded a slight increase in the number of students during the pandemic, according to a study released Tuesday by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission.

P.E.I.'s jails, partially emptied a year ago in response to the pandemic, have returned to their previous population levels.

Four mass vaccination clinics will be starting up across Prince Edward Island as deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines ramp up in the coming weeks, said Morrison.

P.E.I. has had 144 diagnosed cases of COVID-19, with no deaths or hospitalizations. There are four active cases.

Nova Scotia reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. It has 15 active cases.

New Brunswick has 42 active cases, and Newfoundland and Labrador 36.

Also in the news

• In a feature interview on Island Morning, Morrison looked back over the first year of the pandemic and ahead to what the next year might bring.
• The province is launching a $70,000 ad campaign to encourage Islanders to get vaccinated.
• Many Islanders are filing taxes early to get ahead of COVID-19 expenses, accountants say.
• Seafood plant workers have been put near the top of the list for vaccines on P.E.I., and that should reduce worries during this spring's lobster fishery.
• P.E.I. libraries are offering virtual programming to keep children busy during March break this week.

These Islanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

People over the age of 75.

People aged 18 to 29 in the following occupations:

• Food and beverage service.
• Food delivery service.
• Convenience store and gas station attendants.
• Grocery store clerks.

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.

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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