COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Thursday, Dec. 17

In an unscheduled briefing Thursday, Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison announced that as of Friday at 8 a.m., some of the circuit-breaker restrictionsbrought in last week will be eased. Gatherings can be larger in time for Christmas, and restaurants can reopen dining rooms.

Some Island elementary school students are learningto sing, without making a sound they're using sign language, in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Despite the pandemic and its restrictions, the Island managed to grow its population slightly this year, coming in second in Canada in percentage growth only to Alberta.

P.E.I. Minister of Social Development and Housing Ernie Hudson is preparing another letter his third in the past 18 months asking the federal government to contribute funding for a basic income pilot program here.The pandemic interrupted negotiations when it hit in March.

And,P.E.I. businessman Warren Ellis, who owns the Frosty Treat in Kensington, is giving away roast turkey dinners for a week as a thank you to his customers as well as a wayto help residents get through these tough pandemic times.

The first person vaccinated against COVID-19 on P.E.I. says he felt like a kid on Christmas morning. The vaccination program started Wednesday and will continue through the first half of 2021.

Health PEI Chief of Nursing Marion Dowling says the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations went smoothly.

P.E.I. received about1,950 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, as public health officials prepared to start rolling out a massive vaccination program.

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.

With one of the largest Christian celebrations just days away, many churches on P.E.I. are left wondering how many people they will be able to welcome over the Christmas season.

The Chief Public Health Office is planning random spot checks on some of the 1,200 Islanders who will be self-isolating over the next few weeks, to make sure they are staying put.

Demand for the services of food banksis up, especially with Christmas approaching. In association with the food banks, CBC's Feed A Family campaign is trying to max out local donations by this Friday.

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

• Island performers have had their Christmas shows cancelled in the circuit break lockdown.
• A P.E.I. student has developed a website of activities that people can do together over the holidays, even at a distance.
• Amid complaints about the impossibility of physical distancing at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital during peak periods, Health PEI told CBC News that it is "exploring alternative options" to manage traffic flow.
• House prices on Prince Edward Island have continued to zoom upwardduring the COVID-19 pandemic, with the latest numbers from the Canadian Real Estate Association showing the average price rose 21 per cent from November 2019 to November 2020.

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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