One new positive case of COVID-19 in PEI; vaccine rollout update

Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, has announced one new positive case of COVID-19 in Prince Edward Island. 

The individual is a man in his 20s who travelled outside of Atlantic Canada. He is self-isolating and being followed by public health daily. 

As of Saturday, almost 16,000 doses of vaccine have been administered in PEI. Individuals in congregate living situations (shelters, group homes), adults in Indigenous communities, rotational workers, truck drivers, health care workers with direct patient care and those 80 years of age and older and one partner in care are currently being immunized. 

“We are grateful to the thousands of Islanders who have stepped up to be immunized against COVID-19. Every person who is vaccinated helps the entire population. We are on track to meet our target of immunizing over 80 per cent of the eligible population, over the age of 16, with at least one dose of the vaccine, by the end of June.”

- Dr. Heather Morrison

Effective immediately, young people age 18 to 29 who work in convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores can book appointments to be immunized at one of six partner pharmacies. 

All individuals age 75 and older are now able to book their vaccination appointment, as well as police, firefighters and power/utility workers. Appointments can be booked directly using the online booking system or by calling 1-844-975-3303. 

On Monday, March 22, individuals ages 70 to 74 can begin booking their vaccination appointments based on their birth month:

• Those in this age group born between January and April can start booking appointments on Monday, March 22;
• Those in this age group born between May and August can start booking on Wednesday, March 24; and
• Those in this age group born between September and December can start booking on Friday, March 26.

On Monday, March 29, mass clinics will begin (by appointment only) in Charlottetown at the Eastlink Convention Centre on Kensington Road and in Summerside at Holland College on Water Street. Locations for vaccine clinics are currently in O’Leary, Summerside, Charlottetown and Montague with an additional clinic beginning in Souris in April. Mass clinics will allow for a larger volume of appointments per day, but will not require anyone already booked in for appointments to be rebooked. 

Beginning in April, the next groups who will be identified for vaccine appointments:

Anyone in priority groups remaining from Phase 1, including frontline health care workers

• Adults age 60 to 69, beginning with individuals over 65 years of age
• Frontline essential workers age 18-59 who cannot work virtually (e.g. grocery and retail clerks, restaurant servers, gas station attendants and clerks, teachers, school personnel, early childhood educators, veterinarians, public transit drivers, seafood and meat plant employees)
• Adults age 18-59 with underlying medical conditions who are at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 and their primary caregivers
• Adults age 50-59, beginning with individuals over 55 years of age
• Non-frontline health care workers needed to maintain system capacity
• Non-frontline essential workers
• All remaining adults over the age of 18, followed by youth age 16-17

Multiple population groups may be immunized at the same time.

In July, Islanders will be receiving their second dose of vaccine, which is important to be fully immunized.

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.

Prince Edward Island currently has four active cases of COVID-19 and has had 144 positive cases since the onset of the pandemic. Information about the province’s COVID-19 cases is available online.

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 
• Stay home if you are not feeling well 
• Limit touching your eyes, nose and mouth 
• Keep your circle of contacts small 
• Wear a mask in closed, indoor public spaces 
• 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