COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Tuesday, June 30

Dr. Heather Morrison began her Tuesday news briefing bynoting that it's been more than two months since P.E.I. has seen a new case of COVID-19, but new cases will likely emerge.

If and when that happens, she said, there will be anxiety and disappointment. But her office is"prepared to respond and do so quickly," she said. "We will be ready."

The Island is just days away from an influx of visitors as the Atlantic provinces open their borders to people from within the region.

Morrison said the Chief Public Health Office is bracing for cases ashealthrestrictions are eased.

With the Atlantic bubble soon cominginto effect, Morrison laid out guidelines forIslanders planning to travel out of province and requirements forresidents of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador planning to visit P.E.I.

By the numbers

Morrison said almost 1,400 new negative tests have returned since last week, and over 11,500 tests from P.E.I. have been done.

There are currently 1,156 people in self-isolation on P.E.I. and 6,300 have completed their 14 days.

In the last two weeks,728 seasonal residents have arrived on P.E.I.

There have been 1,900 essential workers approved for travel to P.E.I., and 1,600 approvals on compassionate grounds, which includes 237 for family support.

P.E.I. has had 27 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the most recent on April 28. All have recovered.

Other P.E.I.COVID-19 news

Air Canada has suspended a popular flight route between Charlottetown and Halifax indefinitely. It is one of 30 domestic regional routes that have been suspended across the country, and one of 14 in Atlantic Canada.

Northumberland Ferries will boost its offerings to six round-trip sailings between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia as of this Friday.

P.E.I.'s "pandemic resistant" golf courses areexpecting to get even busieras the demand for tee times increases, Golf P.E.I. said.

Heather Johnston says she's got a never-been-worn wedding dress she'd like to give to someone whose wedding has been affected by COVID-19 for free.

P.E.I.'s education minister says classes like physical education, art and music will not be eliminated when students return to school in the fall.

Maritime Bus says it's been seeing an increase in demand since the Atlantic pandemic bubble which begins Friday was announced.

Also in the news

• The P.E.I. government is postponing plans for afree, half-day pre-kindergarten programfor four-year-oldsand is now aiming for next September instead.
• Concerns are being raised aboutaccess to vulnerable sector checksas RCMP offices remain closed to public.
• A group of restaurants hascome together to draft aformal request to public health officials to further ease some COVID-19 restrictionsand allow for more customers in their establishments.

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.

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

• BY THE NUMBERS

  The current status of COVID-19 on P.E.I.

• COVID-19 pandemic essential information for P.E.I.