New provincial measures regarding COVID-19 announced

(l-r) Prince Edward Island’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Heather Morrison and Marion Dowling, Health PEI’s COVID-19 response lead

Prince Edward Island’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, today announced additional provincial measures to protect the health and safety of Islanders as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve.

Effective today, all public and private long-term care and community care facilities will be restricting visitors.

Children who have travelled outside the country, or whose parents/caregivers have travelled outside the country, should not attend childcare centres and are asked to self-isolate for 14 days. Children who are showing any sign of illness should also not attend child care centres.

Marion Dowling, Health PEI’s COVID-19 response lead, also noted that Health PEI, as part of activating its pandemic plan and reflecting staffing pressures across the health care system, will be moving to delivering essential services only. For some Islanders, this will mean that their elective procedure or appointment will be rescheduled to a later date, some services will be offered via home-based programming or generally deferred. Islanders will still be able to access primary care, prenatal and newborn care, emergency care and urgent care, in addition to other services.

Dr. Morrison extended her appreciation to Islanders for their continued patience, noting that both 8-1-1 and the toll-free COVID-19 information line are experiencing high call volumes and re-emphasized that Islanders’ calls will be returned.

Watch the PEI COVID-19 Update of March 15, 2020 on YouTube

Prince Edward Island currently has one confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in the province. Those who have been in close contact with this person have been contacted, and further contact tracing is currently underway.

Islanders with questions about COVID-19 should call PEI’s toll-free information line at 1-800-958-6400. The information line is taking messages 24-hours a day, 7 days a week and Islanders who leave messages will receive a call back within 24 hours from the Chief Public Health Office.

Islanders experiencing symptoms (cough, fever, or shortness of breath) within 14 days after international travel should call 8-1-1 to be screened and, if necessary, directed for testing.

Those requiring immediate medical attention should call 9-1-1.

For answers to general questions about COVID-19, visit our webpage at: www.princeedwardisland.ca/covid19.

Backgrounder:

The Chief Public Health Office continues to work closely with the federal government, provincial and territorial counterparts, government departments and Health PEI to continue to monitor the situation globally, nationally and locally. The public health risk of COVID-19 is continually reassessed and Islanders will be updated as new information becomes available.

Government’s special situation response group also continues to work collaboratively with the Chief Public Health Office, stakeholders and community partners in preparing for all impacts related to COVID-19 to the province, including health, social and economic.

Everyone is encouraged to follow routine prevention measures:

Washing hands frequently with soap and water
Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue
If ill with acute respiratory symptoms, stay home if possible
Limit touching your eyes, nose and mouth
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
(902) 368-5610
shughes@gov.pe.ca

General Inquiries

Department of Health and Wellness
4th Floor North, Shaw Building
105 Rochford Street
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8

Phone: 902-368-6414
Fax: 902-368-4121

DeptHW@gov.pe.ca