One new case of COVID-19 in PEI

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

The individual is in their 60s and recently travelled outside of Prince Edward Island. Contact tracing is complete, and the individual is self-isolating. 

There is a flight notification related to the case: 

• Air Canada flight 8218 travelling from Montreal to Charlottetown on Monday, November 1

Anyone who travelled on this flight should monitor closely for symptoms, and if any develop, visit a drop-in testing site. 

Prince Edward Island currently has five active cases of COVID-19 and has had 320 positive cases since the pandemic began.

A reminder that parents or guardians with children in grades K to 6 are encouraged to pick up at-home rapid antigen test kits at any of the eight Access PEI sites. Schools also have a supply of test kits are available for parents. Test kits are also available at health centres at Abegweit First Nation and Lennox Island First Nation. These screening kits are to be used when a child has a single mild symptom of COVID-19.

If the rapid antigen screening test result is negative, it should be repeated in 48 hours, regardless of symptoms. Any positive rapid antigen screening must be followed up with a lab-based PCR test conducted at a Health PEI clinic.  The only test that can be used to diagnose COVID-19 is a lab-based PCR test.

As of Saturday, October 30, 93.6 per cent of eligible residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 88.3 percent are fully vaccinated. PEI has one of the highest rates of fully immunized adults in the country.

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 or at 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.

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