COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, Jan. 15

A special facility to treat those in psychiatric emergencies in that opened in Charlottetown during the pandemic won't be reopening, despite earlier assurances from the health minister that theclosure was temporary.

The pandemic is having a big impact on fundraising efforts for the 2023 Canada Games in P.E.I.

The new head of the P.E.I. Nurses Union, Barbara Brookins, says there is a continuing and ongoing concern over a shortage ofnurses on the Island.

Student well-being teams in Prince Edward Island's schools are seeing an increase in referrals for help, perhaps in part because of the pandemic.

The final audited statements for P.E.I. Premier Dennis King's first year in governmentare in, and they contain a rare bit of budgetary good news. The government believed its planned surplus would beerased by the few weeks of pandemic that fell into the fiscal year, but statements released Friday showP.E.I. ended up with a $22-million surplus.

Thepandemic has cut into volunteer numbers, and the Canadian Red Cross on P.E.I. is looking for volunteers to help out both on the Island and across the country.

P.E.I. did not see a spike in cases as a result of holiday gatherings, said Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison in an interview with CBC News:Compass,but Morrison said she is concerned about rising case numbersin neighbouring New Brunswick.

P.E.I. will not look at anAtlantic bubbleagain for at least two weeks.

There was one new case of COVID-19 in the province Thursday, a man in his 50s who returned from travel outside Atlantic Canada.

Allowing Islanders access to government-sanctioned high-limit online betting, especially during a pandemic, is a bad idea, says Liberal Finance critic Heath MacDonald. He's referring to a new online casino planned for P.E.I. by Atlantic Lotto.

The total number of positive COVID-19 cases reported on P.E.I. is 104, with eight still active. There have been no deaths or hospitalizations.

Also in the news

• The 55-Plus Winter Games scheduled for February inCornwallhave been cancelled.
• Aprogram that helps people seeking employmentis addressing new challenges faced by Islandersseeking work during the pandemic.
• With the people they advocate for facing added risks from COVID-19, the P.E.I. Lung Association has started a new online virtual support group for those withchronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Nurses and pharmacists on P.E.I. are confident they can quicklydeliver the COVID-19 vaccines when they are called upon.
• After motoring through the pandemic in 2020, there are strong signs the P.E.I. construction industry is looking ahead to another good year.

Further resources

• Here is a chart of COVID-19 cases on P.E.I. since March, and a timeline of 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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