COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, Dec. 18

Some of the circuit-breaker restrictionsbrought in last week have been eased Friday. Gatherings can be larger in time for Christmas, and restaurants can reopen dining rooms.

Larger gatherings can now be held at places ofworship, and hockey games can go ahead.

Health PEI outlined how it is easing restrictions for visiting in hospitalsand health-care centresFriday.

Some Islandbusinesses are celebrating the restrictions lifting early,while others say their window of opportunity has closed.

The province announced Friday that liquor deliveries allowed during the pandemic will now be permanent, with changes to liquor regulations.

P.E.I. retail sales have largely recovered from a dip caused by the pandemic,October sales figures released Friday by Statistics Canada suggest.

And gas prices, which have been closely tied to the pandemic, rose again Friday tojust below the pandemic high of $1.03on Aug. 28.

Because she is unable to hold an open house on Christmas Day this year, a bookstore owner in Summerside is giving away free books instead.

There was one new positive caseannounced Thursdayon P.E.I., a man in his 30s who had travelled on a flight from Toronto to be with family for Christmas. He was not experiencing symptoms.

The Island hashad 90positive cases, with 17active. There have been no deaths or hospitalizations.

Also in the news

• Some P.E.I.students are learningto singusing sign languageto prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• P.E.I.grew its population slightly this year, coming in second in Canada in percentage growth.
• Frosty Treat dairy bar owner Warren Ellisis giving away roast turkey dinners for a weekto help Islanders affected by the pandemic.
• P.E.I. received 1,950 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine this week and beganrolling out a massive vaccination program.Health PEI Chief of Nursing Marion Dowling says the first round went smoothly.
• P.E.I. will not further extend the deadline for property tax payments. These were deferred to the end of the year to help people struggling financially through the pandemic.

Further resources

• Here isinformation for livingwith the COVID-19 pandemic on P.E.I. including information on government relief programs, physical distancing measuresand essential health services.
• 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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