Health PEI restricting visitors, expanding COVID testing hours 

Health PEI is restricting visitors and increasing COVID-19 testing capacity in response to the latest outbreak of cases and increased pandemic restrictions announced Sunday. 

As of 8 a.m. Monday, no visiting will be allowed at Health PEI hospitals, long term care, or any other facility. Exceptions will be made for compassionate circumstances, such as the when a patient is nearing the end of life. 

Patients/residents may have one designated partner in care attend with them. A partner in care is a family member or friend who helps provide additional care for a patient or resident and are considered part of the patient care family.

“These restrictions are difficult for our patients and their families, but they are very important during these next two weeks, as we work urgently to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community and to any of our health care services,” said Marion Dowling, COVID-19 Joint Response Team Co-Lead. 

Health PEI is also expanding hours at its testing clinic in Charlottetown. From Monday, Dec. 7 to Friday, Dec. 11, the testing clinic on Park Street will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Additional sites and further increases in testing clinics will be evaluated and implemented as necessary. 

While every effort will be made to return test results as quickly as possible, people should expect to wait between 24 and 72 hours to receive negative results through My Test Results, the negative test result portal. Anyone who tests positive will be called directly.

“We expect there will be a significant increase in testing this week, especially larger groups of contacts and people aged 20-29 in the Greater Charlottetown area,” said Dowling. “Our staff are working hard to provide the tests and results.  Please be kind and patient during this time.”

Anyone (in any age group) who has symptoms should get tested immediately and self-isolate until results are received. 

For those in the 20 - 29 age group in the Charlottetown area who do not have symptoms, testing can be completed over the next several days.

Anyone who is in this age group in the Greater Charlottetown Area, who is not symptomatic, does not need self isolate after getting tested. 
Individuals can report to work and school before they get tested as long as they are not experiencing any symptoms.

Media contact:
Everton McLean
Senior Communications Officer
Health PEI
(902) 213-1507
emclean@gov.pe.ca