COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, Jan. 8

Inan interviewwith CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin, Dr. Michael Gardamsaid P.E.I. has done very well with its vaccine rollout so far.

The Modernavaccine rollout began today with 86-year-old Doreen Wooderreceiving the shot at Summerside's Wedgewood Manor.She credited Dr. Heather Morrison doing "such a great job of protecting Islanders and giving sound advice" as being the reason she and herhusband decided they'd get the vaccine.

Despite the requests of some seasonal residents to be vaccinated on P.E.I., Morrison says the provinceonly expects to have enough vaccine to cover the Island's year-round inhabitants.

Meanwhile, P.E.I.'s pharmacists say they've been in talks with Morrison's office and may be distributing and administering vaccines come spring.

Statistics Canada also released its Labour Force Survey for Decemberthis morning andthe provincial economy dropped 900 jobsduring circuit breaker measures.

The pandemic is making planning harder, but organizers are moving ahead to mark the 250th anniversary of the arrival of Scottish settlers on P.E.I. in 2022.

After taking a hard hit in the spring, with hundreds more businesses than usual shutting down, P.E.I. saw a strong recovery in the summer months.

P.E.I. announced one new COVID-19 case on Thursday. The woman in her 20s arrived in the province by vehicle from outside the Atlantic region and has been self-isolating.

The Island has now had 102casesof COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Eight remain active.

Also in the news

• P.E.I. is aiming to have just over 15,000 Islandersvaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of March. Morrison said 3,600 will have been vaccinated by the end of thisweek.
• P.E.I.'s chief of nursing says the province is on track to meet that goal and hopes 80 per cent of the population will opt to get the vaccine by the end of summer.
• A vaccinology specialist at Dalhousie University is optimistic vaccine hesitancy won't be a problem in Atlantic Canada.
• Truckers on P.E.I. are welcomingnews they could be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of March.
• P.E.I. has removedsome of the pandemic restrictions it put into place in early December, including allowing spectators back at some sporting events.

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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