P.E.I. enforcing new precautionary, temporary measures in response to COVID-19 Omicron variant
Prince Edward Island's top doctor is enforcing new precautionary and temporary measures in response to the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.'s chief public health officer, says the situation with Omicron is evolving and she hopes to know more about how transmissible it is in the coming weeks.
"I am concerned about the potential impact of the new variant on long-term care and community care residents who are at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19," said Morrison. "Nationally, case rates among children age five to 11 years are the highest of any age group. The addition of these new measures is out of an abundance of caution as we continue to do what is necessary to protect the health of Islanders.”
Effective Friday, Dec. 3 at 8 a.m. until early January, the following measures will be in place:
- Anyone arriving in P.E.I. from an international destination (including the United States) must be tested at the point of entry on arrival and again on day 4. The testing on day 4 is no longer recommended, it is required. Individuals who travelled internationally who do not get a day 4 test will be subject to enforcement measures, including fines.
- Any individuals who return from international travel will be unable to enter a long-term care or community care facility in P.E.I. until they have had three negative COVID-19 tests on days zero, four and eight. This applies to all staff, volunteers and visitors.
- Similar to Nova Scotia, children under the age of 12 years will be unable to travel inter-provincially for the purpose of participating in sports tournaments or arts and culture events. P.E.I. cannot host interprovincial tournaments and arts and culture events for children under 12 years of age. Provincial tournaments (within P.E.I.) and arts and culture activities are permitted, as are provincial and interprovincial sports tournaments for those 12 years of age and older. P.E.I. children under the age of 12 years can attend out-of-province tournaments and arts and culture events as spectators but they may not participate in those events.
Morrison says the new measures will be reevaluated in the new year.
ONE NEW CASE
Prince Edward Island also reported one new infection of COVID-19 on Thursday.
Morrison says the new case involves an individual in their 70s who recently travelled outside of P.E.I.
Contact tracing is now complete, and the individual is self-isolating.
There are currently 25 active cases of COVID-19 on P.E.I.
To date, the province has had 381 positive infections.
POSSIBLE COVID-19 FLIGHT EXPOSURE
Island officials also announced a potential flight exposure on Thursday.
Anyone who travelled on the following flight should monitor closely for symptoms of COVID-19 and if any symptoms develop, visit a drop-in testing site.
- Air Canada flight 8332 which departed Toronto on Tuesday, Nov. 30 and arrived in Charlottetown on Wednesday, Dec. 1
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.