Access PEI officials say they are working hard to try to deal with an increase in demand for services at its offices.

Wait times in Charlottetown have been stretching to two hours or more some days. Tents have been set up outside the Riverside Drive office of the agency that serves Islanders looking to obtain a driver's licence, pay property tax or buy a fishing licence.

"We were closed for two months and the extension on driver's license and registration expiry dates ended on July 6," said Mark Arsenault, the director of Access PEI.

"So I think we're just seeing a higher number of clients than usual at our access sites across the Island."&nbsp;

Access PEI offer shades to those waiting in 'extensive' Charlottetown lineups

While the lineups snaking outside shops and services are keeping people safe and healthy, with respect to the pandemic, officials with Access PEI are worried that in the middle of a heat wave, it could leave them vulnerable to the sun. 

'You have to refocus and look outside your building to make sure people aren't suffering from other things like heat stroke,' says Mark Arsenault, director of Access P.E.I.

Access PEI

'You have to refocus and look outside your building to make sure people aren't suffering from other things like heat stroke,' says Mark Arsenault, director of Access PEI.

A 'smooth' first week back for Access PEI as COVID-19 restrictions eased

While the number of people permitted in its waiting rooms has drastically been reduced due to COVID-19 measures, Access PEI saw long lineups as it reopened some of its locations this past week.

Mark Arsenault, Director of Access PEI says he has seen a 30-40 per cent increase since the change was announced. 

Mark Arsenault 

Mark Arsenault, the director of Access PEI, says the reopening of some offices this past week went well.

The agency's offices in Charlottetown, Summerside, Souris and O'Leary were the first to reopen to the public and provide at least some of its normal services. Staff are based in Alberton, Montague,&nbsp;Tignish and Wellington as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"We do have the pilot project that is running out of Montague where we're helping people process their online registrations, driver's licence renewals over the phone, and address changes," Arsenault noted.

"And the demand there's been quite high —&nbsp;actually, to the point where we've authorized as much overtime as we possibly can to keep up with the demand."&nbsp;

Arsenault says Access PEI employees are doing as much as they can to try to reduce the wait times.

Another case of COVID-19 detected on P.E.I., bringing total to 6

P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison says the Island has one more case of COVID-19 in a young man who was a close contact of someone from an existing cluster, bringing the active number of cases on P.E.I. to six.

A nurse gets ready to perform a test at a temporary COVID-19 clinic in Montreal, on  May 12, 2020.

COVID Que 20200512

There are now six active cases of COVID-19 on P.E.I.

Need a mask? Rotary has your back

If you’re having trouble getting a facemask following P.E.I. Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison’s strengthened recommendation for them Tuesday, Rotary Club is here to help.

Coronavirus protection. Blue antiviral medical face masks. Surgical protective masks with ear loops on white background.                   ; Shutterstock ID 1710723322; User Email: kevin.yarr@cbc.ca; Approving Manager: Sandy Falconer; Cost Centre: 2540406-32114; Project Name: Need a facemask? Rotary’s got your back

Disposal face masks

Rotary Club has just received a shipment of non-medical, protective face masks.

People needing to update their driver's licence or access other government services are still having to line up, with many showing up as the Access PEI offices open at 8 a.m.

Long lineups still a reality as Access PEI handles backlog

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