COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Monday, July 12

Some local businesseson P.E.I. say the province's decision to suddenly drop themask requirements in indoor spaces caught them off guard.

Green Party LeaderPeter Bevan Baker is disappointed with the province lifting the mask mandate. He said the government should have been more patient.

The NDP of P.E.I. is launching a social media campaign to reinstate the rules mandating masks be worn in indoor public places on P.E.I.

Holland College says masks are no longer required on campus when physical distancing can be maintained. However, the Charlottetown institution said, "we strongly recommend mask use if you are not fully vaccinated."

P.E.I. restaurants are experimenting with how to respond to the dropping of mandatory mask rules.

Premier Dennis King announced at a briefing Friday the wearing of masks indoors is no longer mandatory, but it is still strongly recommended for those not fully vaccinated. At the same briefing, King said residents of Atlantic Canada with a PEIPass will no longer be tested at the border.

Islanders reacted with elation and apprehension to the mask announcement.

An Islander now working with a pandemic research team at Oxford University says P.E.I.'s decision to prioritize young front-line workers for vaccination was "quite a smart move."

It's never easy for P.E.I. restaurants to find enough cooks, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it worse.

Access to walk-in clinics in the province became more difficult when the pandemic started, and it is still a challenge.

P.E.I. has oneactive caseof COVID-19 as of Friday, and has seen a total of 208.

Elsewhere in Atlantic Canada:

• Nova Scotia reported one new COVID-19 case on Monday, and has 37 active cases.
• New Brunswick has had no new cases for a week now, and the number of active cases has dropped to five.
• Newfoundland and Labrador has not updated its numbers today, which is a government holiday (Orangeman's Day/Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne). At last report, there were 16 active cases.

Also in the news

• If you are looking for a tattoo on P.E.I., you might have to wait... and COVID-19 may be partly to blame.
• The P.E.I. Pharmacists Association says uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines at pharmacies across the Island has been "very good" over the last few weeks.
• The P.E.I. Pride Festival will include more in-person events this year.

TheseIslanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over 12.
• Islanders over 18can book an appointment for Moderna vaccine at a pharmacy.

You can find more information about how to get a vaccinehere.

Further resources

• Here isa chart of COVID-19 cases on P.E.I. since March 2020, and a timelineof pandemic events.
• Here is a look at how coronavirus isspreading 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.

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