P.E.I. to further ease pandemic restrictions Oct. 1

P.E.I. will further ease restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic next month, moving into what Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison is calling a "new normal."

Morrison was speaking at her weekly pandemic briefing on Tuesday.

"Our new normal that we're looking forward to will be in effect until the spread of COVID-19 is broadly contained and a vaccine or effective treatment is available," she said.

The new rules will include:

• No limit on the number of 50-person cohorts at a single event. The current limit is three. An operational plan for these larger gatherings will be required.
• Personal gatherings of up to 20 people will be allowed. That is the current outdoor limit. The indoor limit is currently 15.
• Restrictions on sports and other physical activities will also be eased, with strict physical distancing not required.

"It will be up to each organization to determine what activities can be modified or limited, recognizing that some activities present more risk than others," said Morrison.

Morrison also said that restrictions on international travellers will be in place until at least early 2021, so workers arriving on P.E.I. from outside Canada will still be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Her office later clarified that no decision has been made on whether the 2-week self-isolationrequirement for non-bubble Canadians will continue into the new year.

Further easing is contingent on the coronavirus remaining contained on the Island, Morrison said. The Oct. 1 date could be delayed, or restrictions could be reimposed if there is an outbreak.

More from CBC P.E.I.