COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, April 16

Some sad news on Friday: A patient suffering from COVID-19 has been admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown, becoming Prince Edward Island's first hospitalization case due to the coronavirus since the pandemic began.

Premier Dennis King cited the hospitalization of the person, aged between 40 and 49, as he said now is not the time forPrince Edward Island to discuss relinquishing any of its vaccine doses, as the Canadian Medical Association has urged lesser-impacted regions of Canada to do.

Earlier in the week, King toldCBC News the Atlantic bubble reopeningwas delayed at least in part because of the prospect of crowded hospitals not being able to keep up if there was a COVID-19 outbreak tied to freer regional travel.

One quarter of Islanders have now received at least one vaccine shot, says P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison.

Pharmacies are reportingsteady traffic for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The delay in the reopening of the Atlantic bubble has complicated life for university students returning to P.E.I. with the end of the spring semester.

You can add fishing to the list of pastimes that have become more popular during the pandemic.

Another summer of uncertainty about what public health rules will be in place has led the P.E.I. Red Cross to cancel its water safety day camps for the second year in a row.

Islanders are being advised to check their home insurance policies to see if it includes a new clause excluding COVID-19 coverage.

Two new cases of COVID-19have been reported on P.E.I., prompting a flight exposure warning regarding the Air Canada flight from Montreal on Wednesday, April 7.

The Island has seen 167 cases of COVID-19, with seven considered active. There have been no deaths and, as of Friday, just one hospitalization.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic region Friday:

• New Brunswickreported nine new COVID-19 cases as of Friday, six of them in the Edmundston zone, for a total of 141 active cases.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported three new cases of COVID-19 and has 18 active cases.
• Nova Scotiahas six new cases for a total of 42 active cases. There has also been an additional death in thatprovince.

Also in the news

• P.E.I. Premier Dennis King says he has offered help to New Brunswick in the way of test kits and supplies as it deals with a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.
• The agriculture industry is feeling more comfortable this spring that it will get the temporary foreign workers it needs, though getting them to P.E.I. is still complicated by the pandemic.
• Here's how businesses that rely on tourism in Victoria-by-the-Sea are trying to prepare for the uncertain season ahead, with the Atlantic bubble delayed until at least May 3.
• Tourism officials on Prince Edward Island are calling for more information about what the province plans to do if New Brunswick cases continue to rise over the next two weeks, with some backing the idea of a bubble that includes only P.E.I., Nova Scotia and possibly Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Islanders are sharing their thoughts about the delayed bubble.
• Funeral directors are welcoming a relaxing of rules that will now allow two cohorts of 50 people each at P.E.I. memorial services.

TheseIslanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over 55.
• Islanders over the age of 16 with underlying medical conditions, and all eligible members of their household.
• Frontline workers over the age of 40 who interact with the public and cannot work virtually.
• People providing health care services to the public includingoptometrists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and their support staff.
• Non-frontline health care workers needed to maintain health care system capacity
• Firefighters, police officers, power-line workers.
• Residents and staff of long-term care homes.
• Adults living in Indigenous communities.
• Residents and staff of shared living facilities.
• Truck drivers and other rotational workers.

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

Further resources

• Here isa chart of COVID-19 cases on P.E.I. since March 2020, and a timelineof pandemic events.
• Here is a look at how coronavirus isspreading 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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