One new positive COVID-19 case in PEI

Prince Edward Island’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, has confirmed one new positive case of COVID-19 in province.

The individual is a woman in her 20s, who travelled internationally to Prince Edward Island for work that is non-health care related. She has been in self-isolation since arriving in PEI on September 20. She underwent routine testing as part of the standard public health protocols in place for individuals who arrive in the province from outside the Atlantic travel bubble. She is doing well and remains in self-isolation. Contact tracing of close contacts is completed. 

The individual traveled from Vancouver to Charlottetown with Air Canada. She departed Vancouver on September 19 on Air Canada flight AC128, arriving in Toronto on September 20. She then flew to Charlottetown the same day on Air Canada flight AC7460. 

The Chief Public Health Office has been in communication with the airline and, out of an abundance of caution, all passengers who travelled on these flights should monitor for symptoms. If any passengers develop symptoms of COVID-19 they should visit a Drop-in Testing Clinic to be tested.

At this point, there is no evidence of community spread of COVID-19 in Prince Edward Island and the risk of transmission in the province remains low. Prince Edward Island has had a total of 58 positive cases of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. All cases to date have been travel-related. 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:

• 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
• Wear a mask in closed, indoor public spaces
• 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:
Samantha Hughes
Health and Wellness
shughes@gov.pe.ca