P.E.I. reports no new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday; announces options for AstraZeneca vaccine recipients
Prince Edward Island is reporting no new positive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, as the active number of cases on the province drops to four.
"We've reported between one and 16 cases in P.E.I. for the last 15 consecutive weeks - on average, about six new cases a week," said Dr. Heather Morrison. "70 per cent of our cases are travel related, and 70 per cent of our cases involve people less than 39 years of age."
Prince Edward Island currently has four active cases of COVID-19 and has had 204 cases since the pandemic began.
VACCINE UPDATE
During Tuesday’s news update, Morrison announced that pending approval from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, P.E.I. will give two options to people who received their first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.
People who received one dose of AstraZeneca can choose to receive a second dose of AstraZeneca, or can opt to have either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their second dose.
Morrison says approximately 5,200 Islanders received one dose of AstraZeneca.
Morrison also announced Tuesday that effective Tuesday, public health nursing will be offering Pfizer vaccines to youth aged 12 to 15 in junior high to increase accessibility for that age group. Vaccination at school will occur only with prior parental consent, and parents can choose to schedule an appointment for their child at one of the public clinics.
As of Saturday, P.E.I. has administered 93,346 doses of vaccine, including 13,441 second doses, meaning 6.8 per cent of the province’s eligible population has received at least one dose, and 9.6 per cent have received two doses.
“Within the last week, we surpassed an important milestone, with 50 per cent of the province’s eligible population vaccinated," said Morrison during Tuesday's update. "Our primary goal is for 80 per cent of eligible Island residents to receive two doses of vaccine by the fall, and for those who are in high risk groups to be fully vaccinated with two doses as quickly as possible.”
STEP ONE OF REOPENING PLAN
P.E.I.'s 'Moving Forward' reopening plan will begin on June 6 with step one, which will see the following changes:
- Personal gatherings can have a maximum of 20 people, an increase of the current limit of a household plus 10.
- Funerals can have a maximum of 150 attendees, an increase of the current limit of 100.
- Weddings can have a maximum of 150 attendees at both the ceremony, and reception, provided they are hosted by a recognized business or organization. Currently the maximum is at 100 attendees at a ceremony and 50 at a reception.
- Restaurants can increase their table size to 20 people and there are no restricted closing times.
Step two of the province's five step plan will take effect on June 27, and will see travel permitted from Atlantic Canada with no self-isolation for travellers with at least one dose of vaccine, and shortened self-isolation for unvaccinated travellers.
"Effective June 27, people traveling to P.E.I. from outside Atlantic Canada will no longer be required to have a 72 hour pre arrival test. Instead, all individuals will be tested as they enter the province," explain Morrison on Tuesday.
COVID ALERT APP
Canada’s COVID-19 Alert app is available in Prince Edward Island.
The app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play, notifies users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
Public health encourages Islanders to get tested if they experience any symptoms of COVID-19, even after a negative test, and to self-isolate until results come back.
Prince Edward Island provides a list of possible COVID-19 symptoms on their website, which include:
- new or worsening cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- fever/chills
- sore throat
- runny nose, sneezing, congestion
- headache
- muscle/joint/body aches
- feeling unwell/unusual tiredness
- acute loss of sense of smell or taste
Other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea have been reported, but typically along with other COVID-19 symptoms, and may be seen more often in children.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.