P.E.I. announces 17 people being treated for COVID-19 in hospital Friday, 2 in ICU

Prince Edward Island reported Friday that 17 people are being treated for COVID-19 in hospital, including two people in intensive care.

Public health says there is one other person in hospital who tested positive for COVID-19, but that person was not admitted due to the virus, and is being treated for illnesses other than COVID-19.

VACCINE UPDATE

As of Thursday, 96.6 per cent of Island residents over the age of 12 had received at least one dose of vaccine and 93.3 per cent were fully vaccinated.

Health officials say 65.6 per cent of children aged five to 11 have had one dose and 9.9 per cent have received their second dose.

"Over 55,600 individuals have their booster dose, while almost 25,000 others are eligible but have not yet received it," says the province in a new release.   

Health PEI says there are hundreds of vaccination appointments available this week at clinics across the province for first, second and booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including dedicated appointments for children.

Anyone age 12 and over can receive their COVID-19 vaccination at one of the Health PEI clinics or at one of the 28 partner pharmacies across the province. Island children between the ages of five and 11 years can now receive their COVID-19 vaccination at Health PEI clinics.  

NEW CASES

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison announced 215 new COVID-19 cases and 417 recoveries as of 8 a.m. Friday. The new cases are under investigation.

P.E.I. has seen an average of 235 new cases per day over the last seven days.

Currently, there are 2,460 active cases of COVID-19 being reported on P.E.I.

To date, the province has announced 7,274 positive cases of the virus.

OUTBREAK UPDATE

Public health says the COVID-19 outbreak at Miscouche Villa in Miscouche has been declared over.

Health officials also provided an update on the locations of current outbreaks in high-risk settings:

Long-term care facilities(seven facilities with outbreaks):

• Andrews of Park West
• Atlantic Baptist
• Beach Grove Home
• Clinton View Lodge
• Garden Home
• South Shore Villa
• Summerset Manor

Community care facilities(one facility with an outbreak):

• Bevan Lodge

Early learning and child care centres:

• 22 centres with cases of COVID-19
• Six centres open
• Two centres closed
• 14 centres operating at a modified or reduced capacity

Hospitals(one facility withan outbreak):

• Prince County Hospital

Other congregate settings:

• Population that accesses shelter and outreach services in Charlottetown
• Prince County Correctional Centre
• Provincial Addictions Treatment Facility
• Provincial Correctional Centre
• St. Eleanor’s House

TESTING

COVID-19 testing is currently limited to the following:

• symptomatic individuals
• close contacts of positive cases
• confirmatory tests for individuals who test preliminary positive with a rapid antigen test

Islanders who need to be tested for travel purposes will be provided with at-home rapid antigen tests -- two tests to be taken 48 hours apart.

Islanders are urged to get tested if they experience any symptoms of COVID-19, even after a previous negative test, and to self-isolate until the results come back.