Four new COVID-19 cases; testing encouraged for workers travelling from NB

Prince Edward Island’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, has confirmed four new positive cases of COVID-19 in the province related to travel. 

The cases include three men (one in his 30s, one in his 40s and one in his 50s) and a woman in her 30s who all arrived in Prince Edward Island following travel outside Atlantic Canada. Not all of the cases are related to one another. All individuals are self-isolating at home and are being followed by public health daily. Contact tracing is underway. 

Two of the individuals travelled to Prince Edward Island by air on Air Canada flight 7464 from Toronto to Charlottetown on January 4. The Chief Public Health Office has been in communication with the airline. Anyone who travelled on this flight should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 and, if symptoms develop, isolate until you are tested at a Drop-in Testing Clinic.  

Given the recent decision in New Brunswick to move the entire province to the Orange Level under its COVID-19 recovery plan, Dr. Morrison is asking anyone in Prince Edward Island who recently travelled to New Brunswick (since December 25) to closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. 

Out of an abundance of caution, New Brunswick workers travelling to Prince Edward Island for the day (returning to New Brunswick the same day) who will be entering workplaces or homes where there is risk of being within 6 feet of other people are asked to be tested for COVID-19 while in Prince Edward Island. New Brunswick workers who travel to Prince Edward Island multiple times a week should be tested at least once a week. There are pre-existing testing requirements for workers who stay in PEI for more than 24 hours. 

Dr. Morrison is reminding Islanders: 

• monitor closely for symptoms of COVID-19 and if symptoms develop, self-isolate and arrange to get tested;
• non-essential travel outside of PEI is discouraged (essential travel includes attending medical appointments, child care and custody agreements, and work); 
• stay at home and do not attend work, community or social events if feeling unwell; and 
• Anyone who has travelled out-of-province must respect the legal requirement to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return. 

Islanders are also encouraged to download the free national COVID Alert app, which will to let them know if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Prince Edward Island currently has 8 active cases of COVID-19 and has had a total of 101 positive cases of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. Information about the province’s COVID-19 cases is available online.

For the latest information about Prince Edward Island’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit COVID-19 in Prince Edward Island. 

Backgrounder: 

The Chief Public Health Office continues to work closely with the federal government, provincial and territorial counterparts, government departments and Health PEI to monitor the pandemic situation and prepare for all COVID-19 related impacts to the province, including health, social and economic. The public health risk of COVID-19 is continually reassessed and Islanders will be updated as new information becomes available.
Everyone is encouraged to follow routine prevention measures:

• Wear a mask in closed, indoor public spaces
• Washing hands frequently with soap and water
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue
• Stay home if you are not feeling well
• Limit touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Keep your circle of contacts small
• Maintain a distance of two meters from others as much as possible
• Don’t share items like drinking glasses and water bottles
• Frequently clean surfaces like taps, doorknobs and countertops

Media Contact:
Samantha Hughes
Health and Wellness
shughes@gov.pe.ca