Three new cases of COVID-19; one additional hospitalization

Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, has announced three new positive cases of COVID-19 and the province’s second hospitalization related to COVID-19.

The new cases include a child less than 10 years old, an individual in their 30s and an individual in their 50s. All three cases are related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada. The child has been self-isolating since arriving on Prince Edward Island and there are no exposures to any schools or child care facilities.  The child has been admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

The previously announced hospitalization has now been moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the QEH. 

There is also a flight exposure notification related to the cases. Anyone who travelled on Air Canada flight AC8302 from Montreal to Charlottetown on Friday, April 16 should monitor closely for symptoms of COVID-19 and if any develop, visit a testing clinic and self-isolate until a negative result is received.

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 10 active cases of COVID-19 and has had 170 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
Department of Health and Wellness
shughes@gov.pe.ca