Islanders advised to avoid non-essential travel to circuit breaker zones in New Brunswick 

Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, is urging Island residents, regardless of their vaccination status, to avoid non-essential travel to hot zones in New Brunswick. 

“We need to do our part to protect the residents of our province and support our friends and neighbors in New Brunswick and avoid unnecessary travel to these areas for at least the next two weeks. Islanders are reminded that travel is restricted to and from these areas, unless for essential purposes, such as work, health care, and child custody agreements.”

- Dr Heather Morrison

As cases of COVID-19 across New Brunswick increase, several regions are now operating under circuit breaker measures. The areas that are impacted are Zone 1 (Moncton region), as far north as and including Sainte-Anne-de-Kent; Zone 3 in the upper Saint John River valley north of and including Florenceville-Bristol; and all of Zone 4 (Edmundston region). The province of New Brunswick is prohibiting non-essential travel in and out of these regions, which will be monitored with random road checks. 

Anyone who is required to travel for essential purposes should be fully vaccinated, follow public health measures in the jurisdiction they are visiting and follow testing guidance on return to PEI. If individuals experience any symptoms, even mild, they should visit a drop-in testing clinic. 

As always, all Islanders are urged to get tested if they experience any symptoms of COVID-19, even after a previous negative test, and to self-isolate until the results come back. Islanders are also encouraged to download the free national COVID Alert app, which will let them know if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Anyone age 12 and over can receive their COVID-19 vaccination at one of the Health PEI clinics and those age 18 years or older can visit one of the 28 partner pharmacies across the province.  

For information on PEI’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, including vaccine facts, immunization data and booking an appointment, visit: COVID-19 Vaccines. For answers to commonly asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccines, visit: Answers to Common COVID-19 Vaccine Questions.

For the latest information about Prince Edward Island’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit: COVID-19 (coronavirus) 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:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue
• Get vaccinated
• Wear a non-medical mask in indoor places
• Stay home if you are not feeling well
• Limit touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Keep your circle of contacts small
• Physical distance - stay two meters (6 feet) apart
• Don’t share items like drinking glasses and water bottles
• Frequently clean surfaces like taps, doorknobs and countertops
• Visit a drop-in-clinic to be tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms

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