COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Thursday, Jan. 21

With cough and cold season all but non-existent this year because of COVID-19 health measures, P.E.I. Honibelozenge-maker Island Abbey Foodshas laid off 30 staff.

There's been a reorganizationin the top ranks at Health PEI, after lessons about improved workflow learned during COVID-19.

In her weekly checkup with CBC News: Compass, P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison says they've given 6,500 doses of vaccine on P.E.I. so far. A small number of younger people are reportingside-effects such as headache, fever,body aches and sore throat.

Work on the Oyster Bed Bridge replacement will take about a monthlonger than expected due to COVID-19-related supply chain issues.

P.E.I.'s rotational workers will likely be the first to see an easing of isolation requirements once they've received their vaccinations, a standing committee on health and social development heard Wednesday.

Two P.E.I. curlers heading for the national championships in Calgary say living on P.E.I. may give them an edge this year.

The Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce is asking Islanders to shift 10 per cent of their annual spending to support locally owned and operated businesses during the next phase in the Love Local P.E.I. campaign.

The Charlottetown Islanders' games this weekend against the Cape Breton Eagles have been cancelled due to travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Islanders haven't played since the Atlantic bubble was suspended in November,and it's uncertain when they'll play again.

The total number of positive COVID-19 cases reported on P.E.I. is 110, with sevenstill active. There have been no deaths or hospitalizations.

New Brunswick announced 32 new cases on Thursday.There are now 324active cases in the province. Nova Scotia reported twonew cases, with 22 nowactive.

Also in the news

• About 2,000 Holland College students are back in the classroom, some for the first time since March.
• A P.E.I. judge iswrestling withhow to sentence a P.E.I. man who failed to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19.
• The organizers of The Spudhockey tournament in Charlottetown say they had no choice but to cancel the event this year because of COVID-19 restrictions.
• Twenty-one senators from the Maritimes are urging the federal government to provide financial assistance to an inter-city bus service that they say is in financial peril because of the pandemic.

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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