Moving On - Transition Plan to Living with COVID-19

Prince Edward Island is moving forward with a step-by-step plan to ease public health measures over the coming weeks and months as we transition out of a public health state of emergency and learn to live with COVID-19.

This plan was developed based on numbers of cases, numbers of positive tests, new outbreaks, hospitalizations and the COVID-19 situation locally, nationally and internationally.

Throughout the transition and as we begin to live with COVID-19, Island residents and visitors are advised to get vaccinated as recommended, assess personal risk, and stay home when ill. Read the full plan, which outlines each step, here.

• Step 1 (February 17, 2022) increases to personal and organized gathering limits, including for sports and recreation activities, and reduced measures for  business operations, post-entry isolation will be discontinued for fully vaccinated travelers, while continuing to test, and off-island travel for sports and recreation may resume.

• Step 1 (February 24, 2022) updates to contact management

• Step 1 (February 28, 2022) the Vax Pass program will be discontinued, and no isolation for travelers with ongoing testing of travelers.

• Step 2 March 17, 2022 additional increases for outdoor personal gatherings and organized gathering limits, including for sports and recreation activities, as well as capacity limits for  business operations.
• Step 3 (April 6, 2022) removal of personal and organized gathering and capacity limits, no point of entry screening, voluntary testing upon arrival to PEI.

• May 6, 2022 masking requirements continue in certain high risk settings.

• May 24, 2022 masking no longer required in early learning and child care centres, and for students and staff in K-12 public and private schools and on school buses.

• June 3, 2022 masks are still recommended but no longer required in public transit; masking requirements remain in high-risk settings, including hospitals, long-term care, and community care homes; isolation requirements for positive cases updated.

• Further easing of remaining measures as situation permits.

Throughout the transition, COVID-19 press briefings will be held and public updates will be issued as needed. COVID-19 data will continue to be updated on the web.

• Considerations
• Guidance for all steps
• Public health measures
• Personal gatherings
• Organized gatherings
• Receptions and dances
• Sport and recreation
• Business and NGOs
• Long term care
• Education and childcare
• Travel isolation and testing
• Case and contact management
• Reporting

Considerations

• Ongoing vaccine uptake among Island residents is critical, including booster doses in those age 50 and over.
• General public health measures such as physical distancing and masking as well as testing at the points of entry will continue to provide a solid foundation for easing these measures.
• Going forward, we will watch for emerging variants with increased risk of severe disease and monitor and control outbreaks in vulnerable populations.
• We will need to continue to be prepared to respond as there may be surges in COVID-19 activity and strain on our health system.
• Vaccine recommendations will also continue to evolve.

Guidance for all steps:

• Get vaccinated and boosted
• Assess the risk to yourself and to others for participating in activities
• Vulnerable individuals should exercise caution and minimize high-risk exposures situations
• Stay home when sick
• Remember that outdoor activities are lower risk than indoor, and smaller gatherings are lower risk than larger gatherings

Public health measures

Step 3 – Current

• As of June 3, 2022, masks are no longer required in public transit but are still recommended.

• Masking is still required in certain high-risk settings, including hospitals, long-term care and community care homes.

• Further easing of remaining measures as situation permits

• COVID-19 public health guidance can be found here

Personal gatherings

Step 3 – Current

• Gathering limits removed
• COVID-19 public health guidance can be found here

Organized gatherings

Spectators and attendees (e.g. worship services, concerts, spectators at sport events)

Step 3 – Current

• No organized gathering limits

• COVID-19 public health guidance can be found here

Receptions and dances

Step 3 – Current

• May operate at full capacity
• COVID-19 public health guidance can be found here

Sport and recreation

Step 3 – Current

• May operate at full capacity
• COVID-19 public health guidance can be found here

Business and NGOs

Step 3 – Current

• May operate at full capacity
• COVID-19 public health guidance can be found here

Long term care

Step 3 - Current (as of April 14, 2022)

• A resident may identify unlimited visitors.

• 2 visitors at a time recommended indoors

• In outbreak situations, three Partners-in-care (PIC) permitted

• Facility entertainment permitted with guidance on enhanced infection prevention and testing of entertainers prior to entering the facility.

• Non-essential care providers permitted with guidance on antigen testing prior to entering facility.

• Facility church permitted with guidance for entertainments (guidance provided to facilities).

• Residents may go out on pass independently or in the care of a visitor including to community settings. Easing measures will continue to be assessed and prioritized as the situation permits.

Education and childcare

Step 3 - Current

• As of May 24, 2022, masks are no longer required in early learning and childcare, and for students and staff in K-12 when they are on buses and when not seated in class.

• Regular home antigen screening testing no longer required; tests are still available for people who wish to continue screening

• May operate at full capacity

• Easing measures will continue to be assessed and prioritized as the situation permits.

Travel isolation and testing

(including PEI residents)

Step 3 – Current

• No isolation for travellers
• No screening or testing at any of the PEI points of entry

• Federal border measures may apply

Case and contact management

Step 3 - Current

• Enhanced measures recommended for close contacts

• Isolation for cases

• Easing measures will continue to be assessed and prioritized as the situation permits.

Reporting

Step 3 – Current

• Press briefings as needed, press releases as needed, continued updates to COVID-19 case data on website weekly