Health officials on P.E.I. say&nbsp;testing&nbsp;is available for those who need to provide proof they are COVID-19-free before boarding a plane overseas.

Some countries&nbsp;require proof of a negative test for COVID within 72 hours of boarding a flight.

China is bringing in this new requirement&nbsp;on Sept. 9.

A woman active in the Chinese community on P.E.I., Ally Guo, has been working with about 40 Chinese families to get the testing so they can travel.

Lihua Ji, left, travelled to Prince Edward Island in late 2019 to help her daughter prepare for the birth of grandson Ryan. She has been trying to get back to China for months. 

pei china grandmother travel test covid-19

Guo said she didn't think the testing was available unless a person had symptoms or was in close contact with someone showing symptoms.

"All the flights are starting just now, from September. But everyone is trying to get on board, but they cannot if they cannot get this kind of COVID test report," said Guo.

Earlier this week, health officials told CBC News they were working on the possibility of a testing option for travel purposes, but they didn't know when they'd have a solution.

P.E.I. urged to allow COVID-19 tests to meet new China travel requirements

Some members of P.E.I.'s Chinese community are asking the Island's Department of Health to expand options for COVID-19 testing to allow those wishing to travel to China to meet new requirements drafted by the Chinese government. 

However, late Thursday, the province told CBC News that about 100 people who need a test for travel have been tested or have a test scheduled.

The spokesperson said those needing the test should call the province's COVID&nbsp;line, 1-833-533-9333, to schedule a free test.

The province is working to arrange for these tests through the government's drive-thru testing clinic, but that has not been formalized yet.

P.E.I. has 2 more COVID-19 cases involving essential workers

Two more cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed on Prince Edward Island, bringing the province's total caseload since the pandemic began to 46. 

A medical staff member conducts a COVID-19 test at North York General Hospital. 

NYGH

A news release says Prince Edward Island's latest two cases of coronavirus were detected during routine testing of essential workers who had recently travelled to the province and were self-isolating. 

P.E.I. site for accessing negative COVID-19 results now in operation

As promised earlier in the week, Prince Edward Islanders can now find out online if they have tested negative for COVID-19. 

Of the 170 health experts surveyed by CBC Montreal, two-thirds indicated that a second wave of COVID-19 was "very likely."

COVID By The Numbers 20200624

People who test negative for COVID-19 on P.E.I. would still have to keep self-isolating if they have been in contact with an infected person or have recently travelled outside the Atlantic bubble. 

Health officials say testing is available, for free, for those who need to produce proof that they don't have the coronavirus before they get on a plane.

COVID testing available on P.E.I. for those who need it to travel overseas

100 tests for travel so far

More from CBC P.E.I.

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