Two new positive cases of COVID-19 in Prince Edward Island and additional potential exposure locations

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

The first case is a male student at Charlottetown Rural High School. He travelled two and from school on the bus only two days last week – Wednesday, November 25 and Thursday, November 26 – on the following bus routes: 

• Bus No. 23 and Bus No. 3 from home to school
• Bus No. 23 from school to home

The student’s classmates and other close contacts (such as family, students he sat with at lunch, students he sat with on the bus, anyone else he spent extended time with) are being contacted by public health nursing to advise of a potential exposure to COVID-19, arrange for testing and give direction about isolation. Out of an abundance of caution, public health nursing has asked that all staff at Charlottetown Rural High School be tested.

Individuals who are asked to get tested should do so today at either the COVID-19 drop-in testing clinic on Park Street in Charlottetown or at Slemon Park in Summerside. Both clinics are open until 8pm this evening.  

The student also plays for the Sherwood Minor Hockey Midget A Central Team #2. All close contacts of this player, including teammates and coaching staff, are being contacted by public health nursing to arrange for testing and to be given direction about isolation. Other teams, players, staff or officials who require testing will also be notified by public health.

There are also two public exposure locations related to this case: 

• Wendy’s Restaurant (643 University Avenue) on Wednesday, November 25 and Thursday, November 26 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
• Needs Convenience Store (259 St. Peters Road) on Thursday, November 26 from 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Anyone who was at these locations during these times should closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and, if symptoms develop, get tested and isolate until they receive the results. 

The Chief Public Health Office is working closely with the Public Schools Branch, Charlottetown Rural High School, Hockey PEI and the Sherwood Minor Hockey Association to ensure anyone who is potentially affected by this case are contacted quickly, are tested as needed and follow isolation protocols as directed. 

The second positive case, is a male between the age of 10 and 19 who recently travelled to PEI from outside of Atlantic Canada. He is not part of the PEI school system and has been self-isolating since he arrived in the province on Thursday, November 26. Public health has followed up with all close contacts and they are also self-isolating. 

The individual travelled to Prince Edward Island on Thursday, November 26 on Air Canada flight AC7462 from Toronto to Charlottetown. Out of an abundance of caution, anyone who was on this flight should closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and, if symptoms develop, get tested and isolate until they receive the results. 

Dr. Morrison is reminding all Islanders of the importance to get tested if experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.

Prince Edward Island has had a total of 72 positive cases of COVID-19 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:

• 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
• Wear a mask in closed, indoor public spaces
• 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