COVID-19 on PEI: what’s happening the week of December 26

On Monday, the PEI government released a list of 30 new venues for public exposure to COVID-19, including the Gahan House and Brickhouse Kitchen and Bar in Charlottetown, and the Cineplex Theater in Summerside for a screening of Sing 2.

Anyone present at the sites at the times listed, vaccinated or not, is asked to check for symptoms. If symptoms appear, they should be tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate until the results come back.

However, Public Health announced Monday that public exposure and flight exposure reports are being paused due to widespread community transmission. Individuals are advised to treat all public locations as potential exposure sites.

PEI has limited COVID-19 testing in its testing clinics as the number of cases continues to increase.

The O’Leary test clinic will not be open Tuesday as previously scheduled. Public Health says this change is due to lab testing capacity.

People were turned away from the COVID-19 testing site in Borden-Carleton on Boxing Day after the site reached capacity early in the afternoon. The closure did not affect 24-hour rapid tests for those entering the province through the Confederation Bridge, according to a release from Health PEI

The official opposition is calling on the government to increase financial support for islanders and businesses struggling with increasingly stringent COVID-19 restrictions. The opposition also calls for better access to rapid test kits.

The province again tightened restrictions on social gatherings last Thursday after announcing 35 new cases of COVID-19 that day. Under some of the new temporary measures, weddings and funerals are no longer allowed. Wedding and funeral ceremonies can take place but will be limited to a maximum of 50 people. The restrictions apply until January 8.

Schools in PEI will remain closed until at least January 10. Classes will resume online on January 5.

PEI has announced COVID-19 outbreaks at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Riverview Manor Nursing Home in Montague. Last Wednesday, 33 new cases were announced.

All people arriving at PEI are now required to self-isolate for at least four days, with the quarantine timeline dependent on vaccination status. The province also requires the early closure of bars and restaurants.

Here’s a searchable table of public exposure sites going back three weeks. Use the search box for specific communities or dates.

Testing services for COVID-19 must be improved, says GroenLinks.

As of Friday, there are 198 active cases and there have been 621 cases of COVID-19 on PEI since the start of the pandemic.

Elsewhere in Atlantic Canada

• New Brunswick announced 639 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths over the holiday weekend. The total number of active cases is 1,850.
• Nova Scotia reported 581 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The county has not updated its active case numbers.
• Newfoundland and Labrador reported 357 new cases over the holiday weekend. The province has 677 active cases.

Top news from last week

The PEI Vax Pass

The PEI Vax Pass is now mandatory at a number of businesses and events. Here’s how to get the pass and how it works.

Here is a list of where to show proof of vaccination on PEI

And here’s a look at how the vax pass can protect you.

These islanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• Anyone five years and older.
• Islanders can make an appointment to receive the vaccine at a pharmacy or public health clinic.
• You can find out more about getting a vaccine here.

Further Resources

Reminder about symptoms

The symptoms of COVID-19 may include:

• New or worsening cough.
• Fever and/or chills.
• A sore throat.
• Runny nose, sneezing or stuffy nose.
• Headache.
• Muscle, joint or body aches.
• Feeling unwell or unusually tired.
• Acute loss of sense of smell or taste.