COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Thursday, Aug. 6

The P.E.I. government announced its back-to-school plan for September Wednesday.

Thursday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison told CBC News: Compass's Louise Martin it is possible the plan could be adjusted to make mask-wearing mandatory, but the current evidence does not suggest it should be more than a strong recommendation.

Morrison also said Islanders should be planning to get flu shots this fall and the province has ordered extra vaccine, noting "the symptoms can be very similar" to COVID-19. 

The Official Opposition and education groups had their say on the plan for fall, and Islanders also responded on the CBC P.E.I. Facebook page.

The curriculum for learning this fall has been revised, in some cases extensively, director of English education Tamara Hubley-Little said in an interview on CBC News: Compass Thursday. It will address gaps in learning that may have happened when schools shut down in the spring, and will prepare students and teachers in case they are sent home again.

"We want to make sure students and teachers are well positioned in the event we do need to transition to either a blended learning model or a home learning model. So we've prepared for every scenario," Hubley-Little said. 

P.E.I. restaurants had their busiest weekend last weekend since they reopened after the COVID-19 lockdown, and some had to turn away customers. They continue to lobby to remove the current restriction of 50 customers per entertainment or food venue

The annual Art in the Open festival says it will continue this year despite COVID-19, with "Big, bold, ambitious art installations that can be viewed from a distance, that people can experience at multiple different levels."

Charlottetown police are cracking down on motorcycle noise and speed in the downtown core — they're getting an influx of complaints from residents this summer, and attribute that to more people being home because of the pandemic.

New numbers show Prince Edward Island business closures, which had been hovering around 200 a month for more than a year, shot to 428 in April as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.

The pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Montague is anticipating the need for back-to-school help will be up this year due to COVID-19.

The Island has no active cases of COVID-19. The province has reported a total of 36 cases, with no deaths or hospitalizations.

Also in the news

• The province is working with UPEI and Holland College on how to handle the arrival of international students and Canadian students from outside the Atlantic bubble.
• Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said her office is keeping an eye on the activities of soccer players from the Canadian Premier League.
• Parks Canada on P.E.I. has adapted its offerings and services to adhere to COVID-19 health measures.

Further resources

• Here is information for living with the COVID-19 pandemic on P.E.I. — including information on government relief programs, physical distancing measures, and essential health services.
• Here is a chart tracking COVID-19 numbers and a timeline of COVID-19-related events on P.E.I.

More COVID-19 stories from CBC P.E.I.