COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Tuesday, June 1
Province offers choice of 2nd dose for those with AstraZeneca shot
If you are one of the 5,200 Prince Edward Islanders who received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for your first dose, the province will be giving you a choice for your second shot.
The chief executive officer of the Charlottetown Airport Authority says P.E.I.'s reopening plans are having a negative impact on the number of flights being scheduled for at least the early part of the summer.
A group of P.E.I. businesses has sent a letter to the province voicing concerns around the upcoming tourist season and how it puts them at a "clear disadvantage" with provinces that are reopening sooner.
While P.E.I. has set tentative dates for opening to Atlantic Canada and the rest of the country, those dates could change depending on COVID-19 pandemic conditions, and on how many Islanders have been vaccinated, Dr. heather Morrison said during her briefing Tuesday.
Vaccination rates for staff at some P.E.I. seniors homes are lower than goal of 85 per cent, and health officials are working to get those numbers up.
A P.E.I. student has won a national prize from the Workers Compensation Board for his video, which features dominos to remind people about COVID-19 pandemic safety.
Some COVID-19 rules restricting the size of P.E.I. funerals are easing in the weeks ahead, but physical distancing requirements will keep it challenging to hold large services over the course of the summer.
Some P.E.I. tourism operators are expressing concern how New Brunswick's opening plan will hurt business on the Island.
New Brunswick is planning to open to the rest of Canada earlier than P.E.I., and Island businesses say that could cost them. P.E.I. Premier Dennis King is defending his plan.
There have been 204 cases of COVID-19 on P.E.I. and four are considered active. There have been no deaths and two hospitalizations.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic region Tuesday:
- Nova Scotia's case load continues to fall, with only 12 new cases Tuesday. The province has 369 active cases.
- Newfoundland and Labrador confirmed six new cases of COVID-19 and has 90 active cases.
- New Brunswick has five new cases, and has revised its overall case count to 2,215, with 142 of those active.
Also in the news
- Pandemic restrictions will remain a problem for many funeral homes through the summer, because they won't be able to meet new guidelines for larger services, says the P.E.I. Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association.
- A plan to divert traffic coming off Confederation Bridge through Gateway Village in Borden-Carleton has excited businesses located there.
- With a pandemic and drought under its boots, the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture says it's not surprised at all by the province's farm income stats for 2020: cash receipts are at an all-time high, but recent data from Statistics Canada suggests the total net farm income took a nosedive.
These Islanders are currently eligible for a vaccine
- People over 12.
- Islanders over 18 can book an appointment for a Moderna vaccine at a pharmacy.
You can find more information about how to get a vaccine here.
Further resources
- Here is a chart of COVID-19 cases on P.E.I. since March 2020, and a timeline of pandemic events.
- Here is a look at how coronavirus is spreading across Canada.
Reminder about symptoms
The symptoms of COVID-19 can include:
- Fever.
- Cough or worsening of a previous cough.
- Possible loss of taste and/or smell.
- Sore throat.
- New or worsening fatigue.
- Headache.
- Shortness of breath.
- Runny nose.