COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Wednesday, June 16

Maritime tour operators are confused about the COVID-19 guidelines to follow as travelling begins.

P.E.I. has moved some dates for reopening the border without requiring self-isolation, for those with pre-approved travel starting June 23, and for Canadians from outside Atlantic Canada July 28.

When P.E.I.'s borders are opened up is tied to how many Islanders get vaccinated against COVID-19, so the Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I. is sponsoring a contest to speed the process up.

Visitors will need to apply for a P.E.I. Pass, showing proof of vaccination and of residency. Applications open Thursday.

The P.E.I. tourism industry is thrilled that the Island will be opening sooner to visitors.

Northumberland Ferries, which connects Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, is now taking bookings for non-commercial traffic in anticipation of the Island opening up to the rest of Atlantic Canada.

A Dartmouth woman is disappointed her Charlottetown mother was refused a compassionate grounds exception for travel to help her following the birth of her first child.

There have been 206 cases of COVID-19 on P.E.I., and none are active. There have been no deaths and two hospitalizations. Prince Edward Island has reported no new cases since June 3.

Elsewhere in Atlantic Canada: 

• Nova Scotia  reported eight new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. It has 92 active cases.
• New Brunswick reported three new cases and has 58 active cases. 
• Newfoundland and Labrador reported one new case. It has 35 active cases.

Also in the news

• The Upper Room Hospitality Ministry in Charlottetown has taken over a new space to enable it to help more people at once, given pandemic restrictions.
• Just as the 9/11 attacks did 20 years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic will transform the way people travel internationally — with hundreds of millions of dollars in new government spending planned for modernizing border security and updating public health measures at airports.

These Islanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over 12.
• Islanders over 18 can book an appointment for Moderna vaccine at a pharmacy.

You can find more information about how to get a vaccine here.

Further resources

• Here is a chart of COVID-19 cases on P.E.I. since March 2020, 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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