COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Thursday, Oct. 8

P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said Thursday in an interview with CBC News: Compass that a COVID-19 outbreak in Moncton, N.B., could prompt changes to the Atlantic bubble, in which residents of all four Atlantic provinces are permitted to travel freely without a requirement to self-isolate.

New Brunswick health officials have identified potential public exposure to COVID-19 at the Moncton Costco Optical Centre and Moncton St-Hubert restaurant, sites popular with Islanders makingday trips to shopin the Moncton area.

The federal COVID-19 alert app, announced as coming to P.E.I. last week, became available on the Island Thursday.

While the Liberal candidate is hoping to meet voters on the doorstep during the byelection campaign in District 10, Charlottetown-Winsloe, the PCs and NDP say they will not knock on doors, to reduce the chance of coronavirus transmission.

P.E.I. Sen. Percy Downe saysCBC News: Compassshould not have been suspended during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and wants the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to ensure it won't happen again.

Full-contact hockey will be part of the new normal on P.E.I.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially challenging and "scary" for Island residents with intellectual and physical disabilities, says the executive director of the P.E.I. Council of People with Disabilities.

Starting Thursday, travellers will no longer be screened by New Brunswick officials at the Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia borders.

There have been 61confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Island, with 58 considered recovered. There have been no hospitalizations or deaths, and there is no evidence of community spread.

Also in the news

• An Egyptian immigrant on P.E.I. is growing increasingly frustrated that his wife and son are stuck in Egypt, despite his son being a Canadian citizen. The pandemic is causing further delays.
• Voters in P.E.I.'s District 10, Charlottetown-Winsloe are going to see a different look at the polling station during the Island's first COVID-19 pandemic election on Nov. 2.
• Details are falling into place for the stationary Santa Claus Parade the city of Summerside is having this year, as a COVID-19 safety precaution.

Further resources

• Here isinformation for livingwith the COVID-19 pandemic on P.E.I. including information on government relief programs, physical distancing measures, and essential health services.
• Here is achart tracking COVID-19 numbers and a timeline of COVID-19-related events on P.E.I.
• Here isa guide onwhat parents and students need to knowabout attending school.

More COVID-19 stories from CBC P.E.I.