COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, Feb. 5

There's been another case of COVID-19 diagnosed on Prince Edward Island, but the Island's official count stays at 113 because the man is a resident of another province. A news release about the case issued Friday also says taxi drivers who picked up passengers from the Charlottetown Airport the night of Feb. 1 should monitor themselves for symptoms. 

The unemployment rate on Prince Edward Island took a dive in January as fewer people sought work, according to Statistics Canada. Another factor was increased activity after COVID-19 circuit breaker measures imposed in December were relaxed. 

P.E.I.'s agriculture and seafood processing sectors are hoping new rules for international travellers don't hinder this year's temporary foreign worker program.

Tourism PEI is working on its marketing plan for 2021, but it doesn't know who is going to be allowed to come.

P.E.I.'s Tourism Industry Association says it is disappointed but not surprised by the continued ban on cruise ships until February 2022, but says businesses affected will need continued government support. 

Thursday was the first day the 5,500 or so Islanders aged 80 and older could start making appointments to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and so many called in that the government issued a plea for patience. They asked people to call back if the line was busy. As of midday Friday, a total of 707 people had been booked for appointments.

The total number of positive COVID-19 cases reported on P.E.I. is 113, with three active. There have been no deaths or hospitalizations.

New Brunswick reported 7 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday There are now 228 active cases in the province.

No new cases were reported in Nova Scotia, bringing its total active cases to eight, and the N.S. government announced it will loosen some pandemic restrictions on Monday. 

Also in the news

• For the first time since last March, Culinary Institute of Canada's dining room in Charlottetown is again open to the public.
• Summerside's Boys and Girls Club is changing its anti-bullying campaign, selling face masks instead of pink shirts.
• The pandemic has meant a stressful year for the owner of Linda's Coffee Shop in downtown Charlottetown, but he says his financial worries are over following a $2-million Atlantic Lotto win.
• The student union at UPEI is calling on the province to bring back its moratorium on student loan payments, as financial implications of the pandemic drag on. 
• Tourism businesses have to start planning now for the season ahead, hiring and developing marketing strategies, but once again the year is full of uncertainty.
• Morrison shared her concerns about COVID-19 variants, though none have been detected so far on P.E.I.

Further resources

• Here is a chart of COVID-19 cases on P.E.I. since March, 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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