COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening the week of Sept. 13

P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison announced three new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.

Two of the cases are close contacts to a case from the West Royalty Elementary outbreak in Charlottetown. One is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada.

Several potential exposure sites were also announced.

The Education Department announced classes at West Royalty Elementary and École La-Belle-Cloche in Rollo Bay will resume Monday.

Health P.E.I. held a pop-up rapid-testing clinic at West Royalty Elementary. The clinic was aimed at students who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and are not isolating, as well as staff not fully vaccinated. 

École La-Belle-Cloche was closed Friday for contact tracing and cleaning after a student tested positive Thursday.

Charlottetown students went back to school Thursday after classes in the area were suspended for three days due to the outbreak. All the province's schools will return to cohorting, and masking will be required for students in grades four through 12.

Prince Edward Island Opposition Leader Peter Bevan-Baker used some strong language Friday in a statement on YouTube, criticizing the government's handling of its back-to-school plan to manage COVID-19.

Public health measures prompted by the West Royalty Elementary outbreak came into effect Friday. Indoor public-space mask requirements are back, and personal gathering limits are lowered to 20 people.

Before the government announced the changes, Liberal MLAs came out in favour of a return to masking.

Some Island residents are disappointed they won't be able to vote in the federal election because they'll be self-isolating on election day Monday.

CUPE P.E.I. says it would be in favour of COVID-19 testing measures similar to those in place for staff in long-term care facilities being implemented for school-system workers. But the union also wants the way the tests are taken to be modified to protect members' privacy.

Some parents are expressing concern, others relief, about the return to school plan. Here's how schools are adapting so far to the situation.

Islanders with compromised immune systems are being offered a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Officer is encouraging staff and students at Charlottetown Rural high school who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to get tested.

There are currently 46 active cases of COVID-19, the highest since the pandemic began.

As of Saturday, Sept. 11, 92.2 per cent of eligible Island residents had received at least one dose of vaccine and 83.7 per cent had received two doses. 

Elsewhere in Atlantic Canada

• New Brunswick announced 57 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, putting the total active case count at 370.
• Nova Scotia reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the active caseload in the province to 162.
• Newfoundland and Labrador reported four new cases of COVID-19 in an unscheduled briefing Friday, hours after Premier Andrew Furey said vaccine passports will be mandatory for recreational activities in the province. The province has 38 active cases. 

Also in the news

• Are your children anxious about returning to school amid COVID-19? A clinical psychologist shares her tips on how students and parents can learn to cope with the pandemic.
• The need to close schools has renewed discussions of mandatory vaccines for teachers and school staff.
• All schools in the province have increased public health restrictions due to an elevated risk level.
• A handful of protesters took part in a nationally organized rally against pandemic restrictions Monday.
• Islanders in self-isolation under COVID-19 health orders on federal election day will have one option to cast their vote — by special ballot.
• An Alberta man has been charged with assault after an incident at the COVID-19 screening centre at Charlottetown Airport.
• Official numbers aren't in yet, but the tourism industry says it welcomed more visitors than expected this summer.

These Islanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over 12.
• Islanders over 18 can book an appointment to receive the 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.