Prince Edward Island’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, has confirmed two new positive cases of COVID-19 in the province related to travel.
The individual cases, which are not related to each other, include a woman in her 30s and a male in his late teens who both arrived in Prince Edward Island following travel outside Atlantic Canada. Both individuals have been in isolation since arriving in the province and are being followed by public health daily.
There are no public exposure locations in PEI related to these cases, and the travel details are as follows:
- December 27: Air Canada flight 8302 from Montreal to Charlottetown
“We cannot stress enough the importance of self-isolating, especially following travel outside the province, in our efforts to contain and limit the spread of COVID-19 in Prince Edward Island. It continues to be one of the most effective public health measures that we’ve put in place, along with hand-washing, physical distancing and wearing a non-medical mask, to help keep Islanders safe during the pandemic.” - Dr. Morrison.
The Chief Public Health Office has been in communication with the airline. Anyone who travelled on this flight should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and, if symptoms develop, isolate until you tested at a Drop-in Testing Clinic. Testing clinics are on holiday hours and if testing is required when clinics are closed, please call 8-1-1 to make arrangements for testing.
Dr. Morrison is reminding all Islanders to get tested if they experience any symptoms of COVID-19, and self-isolate until the results come back. Islanders are also encouraged to download the free national COVID Alert app, which will to let them know if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
With one case recently considered recovered, Prince Edward Island currently has 6 active cases of COVID-19 and has had a total of 96 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:
- Wear a mask in closed, indoor public spaces
- 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
- 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:
Amanda Hamel
Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Office of the Premier
(902) 314-2721
ahamel@gov.pe.ca (link sends e-mail)