Same-Day Travel Off-Island for PEI Residents

PEI residents should only travel off Island if necessary. Use alternative ways to conduct necessary business where at all possible.

If you are a PEI resident and you must travel to other provinces for same-day essential travel, you may do so without having to self-isolate upon return, for eligible activities, if certain conditions are met.

Eligible Essential Activities are the following:

• Medical or dental appointments
  • medical and dental appointments that include an overnight stay may be eligible for exemption from self-isolation
• Child custody related travel
• Picking-up students/travellers following the Transporting Travellers to Self-Isolation Location Guidance
• Dropping students off at Atlantic Canadian universities, provided that individuals returning to PEI do not enter dormitories or other places of residence or
• Dropping a passenger off at Halifax or Moncton airport/train station and immediately returning home
• Picking up family/loved one who is being discharged from NB/NS hospital and requires transportation home, following the Transporting Travellers to Self-Isolation Location Guidance

For greater clarity, activities that are NOT eligible for a same-day travel self-isolation exemption include, but are not limited to:

• Any personal pick-up and drop-off of goods or animal companions, unless conducted at the designated Borden Exchange Area with limited, physically-distant interaction with others.
• Travelling to write an exam
• Meetings and interviews

Conditions for Same Day Travel Self-Isolation exemption upon return from eligible essential travel:

• Keep your Confederation Bridge or Northumberland Ferry receipt to verify your departure time and to confirm it was a same day trip and within a reasonable period of time; and keep other documentation associated with your travel (e.g. medical appointment letter)
• Return to Prince Edward Island on the same day as you departed
• Are not traveling via public transit such as commercial plane, bus or shuttle
• Do not stay overnight
• Do not shop
• Do not visit public places such as shopping malls and restaurants
• Do not visit friends or family
• Do not attend meetings, conferences, or events
• Wear a non-medical mask when outside of your vehicle
• Pack a lunch where possible, or if not possible, use drive-through options
• Use pay at pump where possible if you need gas
• Adhere to all public health measures in the jurisdiction you are visiting
• Note that it is permitted to visit public restrooms while travelling, provided you wear a mask, wash your hands and observe all relevant public health measures.

If you take regular same-day trips within Atlantic Canada, you are advised to get tested weekly as an additional precaution.

PEI residents or anyone in PEI experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately visit a COVID-19 Drop-in Clinic to be tested and stay home (self-isolate) until you receive the results.

For PEI resident same day worker travel:

• If you are entering workplaces and/or interacting with people as part of your work outside of PEI you are NOT exempt from self-isolation; you are required to either:
  • Apply to work-isolate upon return to PEI, OR
  • If travelling frequently, you are required register as a rotational worker and follow rotational worker guidelines;
• For frequent commercial courier travel outside of PEI, you are required to register as a rotational worker and follow guidance for other transport workers;
• For one-time or infrequent courier type activities where you are NOT entering workplaces and/or interacting with people (e.g. transportation, delivery, and pick-up of goods), you are exempt from self-isolation, provided the above noted conditions are met.

Am I eligible for an exemption from self-isolation if my medical or dental appointment includes an overnight stay?

If you need to stay one night overnight while attending a medical or dental appointment, you may be eligible for exemption from self-isolation when you return to PEI.

Please contact the Chief Public Health Office at DeptHW@gov.pe.ca to review your situation.  At minimum, the following conditions must be met to be considered eligible for exemption from self-isolation if your appointment includes an overnight stay.  These conditions must also be met by the individual transporting you to your appointment, if applicable:

• Keep your Confederation Bridge or Northumberland Ferry receipt to verify your departure time to verify that you have not been off-Island for an extended period of time
• Keep documentation associated with your medical or dental appointment
• Keep your hotel or lodge receipt as proof of overnight stay
• Do not visit or stay overnight with friends or family
• Do not travel via public transit such as a commercial plane, bus, or shuttle
• Do not shop
• Do not visit public places such as shopping malls and restaurants
• Do not attend meetings, conferences, or events
• Wear a non-medical mask when outside of your vehicle
• Pack food where possible, or use drive-through or delivery services
• Use pay at pump where possible if you need gas
• Adhere to all public health measures in the jurisdiction you are visiting
• Note that it is permitted to visit public restrooms while travelling, provided you wear a mask, wash your hands and observe all relevant public health measures.

If you need to stay overnight for an extended period for medical reasons and are experiencing challenges related to self-isolation upon return to PEI, you may contact DeptHW@gov.pe.ca to review your situation.