Prince Edward Island prepares for Atlantic travel bubble

Islanders will join residents of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador in an Atlantic travel bubble starting Friday, July 3.

Prince Edward Island will begin welcoming family, friends and visitors from Atlantic Canada at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 3. Atlantic Canadians will need to complete an online self-declaration form before traveling to the Island. Individuals traveling in the same vehicle need only complete one form with each person traveling identified on the form. A submission identification number will be generated when the form is submitted and will be later verified when entering the province.

Atlantic Canadians traveling to Prince Edward Island are asked to apply within two days of their scheduled arrival date. Everyone entering the province, including Islanders returning home, will go through a health screening at the point of entry.

Additional public health and screening measures will be maintained as part of the travel bubble:

• Seasonal residents traveling from outside Atlantic Canada will need to apply for pre-approved travel and have a self-isolation plan;
• Islanders returning from travel outside Atlantic Canada will need to self-isolate for 14 days; and,
• Operation Isolation will continue to follow those self-isolating.

Residents of Atlantic Canada currently self-isolating in Prince Edward Island who have not traveled outside the region in the last 14 days can discontinue their self-isolation as of Friday, July 3.

Islanders and visitors should continue to practice physical distancing, washing their hands with soap and water, staying home when feeling ill, and following other public health measures.

Travel bubble requirements may be different for each Atlantic province. Islanders traveling to other Atlantic provinces should inquire about the entry requirements and public health measures for the province they wish to visit before beginning their travels. When returning to Prince Edward Island, Islanders will be required to show two pieces of identification to confirm they are a permanent or seasonal resident.

Media Contact:

Samantha Hughes
Department of Health and Wellness
902-368-5610
shughes@gov.pe.ca

Backgrounder

The Chief Public Health Office continues to work closely with the federal government, provincial and territorial counterparts, government departments and Health PEI to continue to monitor the situation globally, nationally and locally. The public health risk of COVID-19 is continually reassessed and Islanders will be updated as new information becomes available.

Government’s special situation response group also continues to work collaboratively with the Chief Public Health Office, stakeholders and community partners in preparing for all impacts related to COVID-19 to the province, including health, social and economic.

Everyone is encouraged to follow routine prevention measures:

• Washing hands frequently with soap and water
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue
• If ill with acute respiratory symptoms, stay home if possible
• Limit touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Don’t share items like drinking glasses and water bottles
• Frequently clean surfaces like taps, doorknobs and countertops