COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Saturday, March 13

Circuit-breaker measures were lifted on P.E.I. Saturday morning.

They were imposed in late February after a spike in COVID-19 cases among young people in Summerside and Charlottetown.

The measures were originally supposed to end on Monday. However, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said in a release Friday that the circuit-breaker measures along with a 72-hour "modified red level alert" have broken the chain of transmission of COVID-19 in the province.

The following restrictions were eased Saturday morning:

• Personal gatherings can again include a household and up to 10 other people (consistently the same people) but physical distancing should still be observed.
• Concerts, worship services, and movie theatres are backto a total of 200 people in four separate cohorts with an approved operational plan.
• Weddings and funerals can have up to 50 people, plus officiants, and receptions are once again allowed.
• Organized recreation and team sports may resume and games can be held, as opposed to just practices.
• Capacity limits have beeneased for businesses, markets, gyms and fitness facilities, museums and libraries "if physical distancing and other public health measures are maintained."

With the return of organized sports, Hockey P.E.I. has announced playoffs will be held for several Island hockey leagues in the coming weeks.

P.E.I. Finance Minister Darlene Comptonpresented theprovincial operatingbudget,covering a year that could see a gradual economic recovery as COVID-19 vaccines are administered to Islanders and would-be visitors alike.

Prince Edward Island's full-time employment was down 1,100 jobs compared to January,Statistics Canada reported on Friday. Part-time employment on the Island was up by more than 500 jobs.

Holland College says studentswill be back on campusesacross P.E.I.full time this fall.

Hockey P.E.I. says an early end to the province's circuit-breaker restrictions means provincial championships can go ahead, and also thatteams may schedule exhibition games.

TheEaster Beef show is onafter it was cancelled last year.

Summerside residents will pay more for utilities inthe proposed budget, as the city tries to deal with reduced revenues during the pandemic.

P.E.I. has had 143 diagnosed cases of COVID-19, with no deaths or hospitalizations. It has 16active cases.

New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador announced no new cases on Saturday.

Nova Scotia reported five new cases on Saturday.

Also in the news

• Young people working in food service are pleased a stock of vaccines have been set aside for them, saying they willfeel safer going to work.
• Expect a lot of city-sponsored construction around Charlottetown in the coming year, because on Wednesday councilvoted 9-1 to approve an extra-large capital budget.
• The P.E.I. Pharmacists Association isready to helpwith the rollout of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine for people18-29 who work in the food service industry on the Island.
• It's been one year since the World Health Organization declared a pandemic.Here's a look backat the year on P.E.I.

Further resources

• Here isa chart of COVID-19 cases on P.E.I. since March 2020, and a timelineof 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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