COVID-19 pandemic in Prince Edward Island

The COVID-19 pandemic in Prince Edward Island is part of an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The Canadian province of Prince Edward Island has the fewest cases of COVID-19 in Canada in provinces. As of September 12, 2020, Prince Edward Island has reported 55 confirmed cases of the virus, 47 of which have resolved.[2] As of that date, 28,653 tests have come back negative and 84 are currently under investigation.[2] On March 14, 2020, the first confirmed case in Prince Edward Island was announced, a woman in her 50s who had returned from a trip on a cruise ship on March 7.[3] By March 26, there were five cases, all of which had been travel related, i.e., been contracted while persons were abroad.[4] To date, there was no re-transmission reported in the island province.[5]

COVID-19 pandemic in Prince Edward Island
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationPrince Edward Island, Canada
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index caseQueens County
Arrival dateMarch 14, 2020
(10 months, 3 weeks and 2 days)
Confirmed cases103[1]
Active cases8[1]
Recovered95[1]
Deaths
0[1]
Government website
PEI Government

On July 3, the province joined three other provinces to create an Atlantic Bubble, allowing free travel amongst the member provinces and restricting access to travellers from outside provinces. On November 23, 2020, Premier King announced that Prince Edward Island is withdrawing from the Atlantic bubble for a two-week period. The withdrawal is currently extended indefinitely.

Timeline

On March 14, 2020, the first confirmed case in Prince Edward Island was announced, a woman in her 50s who had returned from a trip on a cruise ship on March 7.[6]

On March 16, 2020, the Premier of Prince Edward Island Dennis King announced that the provincial cabinet had declared a state of public health emergency under the Public Health Act. The declaration of emergency gave special powers to the Chief Public Health Officer of the province, who will be able to issue orders to refrain from attending any public gatherings, align resources to where they are needed most, and manage hospitals and other health care facilities and ambulance services.[7]

The Premier also announced that Cabinet had established a $25 million contingency fund, and was also exploring other options, such as monitoring supply chains, exploring compensation for childcare staff, and reducing government activities to reduce interaction with the public.[7]

On March 19, PEI closed its liquor and cannabis stores.[8] Due to concerns that this could impact those suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome, the province announced that it would begin to re-open its liquor stores on March 25.[9][10]

On March 21, all new arrivals to PEI were asked to self-isolate for two weeks, and screening of all travellers began at the Charlottetown Airport, Confederation Bridge, and the ferry terminal for the Magdalen Islands service from Souris.[11]

In June 2020, PEI premier Dennis King suggested that travel between provinces in the Atlantic region might be allowed, as early as the beginning of July. King claimed there was an agreement to this end, in a discussion held on June 10 between the Premiers. When asked by the CBC, the other Premiers expressed caution on an Atlantic bubble."[12]

On July 3, the province along with three other Atlantic provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) lifted travel restrictions among themselves to form Atlantic bubble, allowing residents within the four provinces to travel without self-isolate for 14 days.[13] One day later on July 4, three new cases of COVID-19 were announced, the first new cases in months.[14] On July 5, two new cases were reported.[15] One more case was reported on July 9.[16]

On July 29, the Canadian Premier League announced that it would play a shortened 2020 season known as "The Island Games" at the University of Prince Edward Island, with all participants required to undergo self-isolation and testing before they were allowed to travel and play.[17][18][19]

On November 23, 2020, Premier King announced that Prince Edward Island is withdrawing from the Atlantic bubble for a two-week period. On December 3, 2020 the withdrawal was extended until at least December 21, 2020.[20]

References
  1. "COVID-19". www.princeedwardisland.ca. April 22, 2020. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  2. "COVID-19". princeedwardisland.ca. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  3. Juric, Sam (March 14, 2020). "First confirmed case of COVID-19 on P.E.I. announced". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  4. April, Alan (March 25, 2020). "P.E.I. identifies two new cases of COVID-19; five total". CTV News Atlantic. CTV News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  5. "Health officials say there are no active COVID-19 cases on Prince Edward Island". The Canadian Press. July 28, 2020. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020 – via CTV News Atlantic.
  6. Juric, Sam (March 14, 2020). "First confirmed case of COVID-19 on P.E.I. announced". CBC News. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  7. Toolkit, Web Experience (March 16, 2020). "Premier announces initial financial support, declares public health emergency". princeedwardisland.ca.
  8. Staff (March 19, 2020). "P.E.I. government closing liquor, cannabis stores because of coronavirus". The Guardian. Saltwire Network. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  9. Day, Jim (March 25, 2020). "As Charlottetown liquor store reopens, Islanders keep safe distance in line". The Guardian. Saltwire Network. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  10. "P.E.I. to reopen liquor store, offer Sobeys gift cards to laid-off workers". CTV News Atlantic. March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  11. Bissett, Kevin (March 21, 2020). "Anyone entering P.E.I. asked to self-isolate to limit spread of COVID-19". ctvnews.ca. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  12. Sam Juric; Wayne Thibodeau (June 11, 2020). "Atlantic premiers hesitant to commit to regional travel bubble". CBC News. Charlottetown, PEI: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  13. MacDonald, Michael (July 4, 2020). "Traffic heavy as Atlantic provinces lift travel restrictions within region". CTV News.
  14. Carolyn Ryan (July 4, 2020). "P.E.I. has 3 new COVID-19 cases, 1 tied to long-term care home". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  15. Nicola MacLeod (July 5, 2020). "P.E.I. reports 2 new cases of COVID-19, brings total to 5". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  16. Sara Fraser (July 9, 2020). "Another case of COVID-19 detected on P.E.I., bringing total to 6". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  17. "Canadian Premier League's Island Games: Everything you need to know". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  18. "CPL players, coaches, staff in P.E.I. bubble all test negative for COVID-19". CBC News. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  19. "P.E.I. to host Canadian pro soccer league season starting Aug. 13". CBC News. July 29, 2020.
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