CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — An outbreak of COVID-19 in New Brunswick is a reminder that risks remain, says chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison.
Morrison made the remarks during a news conference this morning as she provided an update on the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) situation in P.E.I.
During the news conference, Morrison said New Brunswick is another example that it only takes one person to spread the virus.
Recently, a doctor working in Campbellton spread the coronavirus after returning from travelling in Quebec without self-isolation before going back to work.
Several people have since tested positive for COVID-19 and some have been hospitalized.
Morrison said it is a reminder the risk still exists, adding it’s not time to go back to the way things were before the pandemic.
During her update, Morrison also said a public health order was renewed effective yesterday.
There was an exemption for essential workers returning from New Brunswick so they did not need to self-isolate but now they must because of the situation in Campbellton, Morrison said.
Morrison said essential workers with frequent travel outside the province will be tested.
She also said people will be tested during autopsies.
Morrison said seasonal residents were able to start applying yesterday to return to the province and the office of public safety received a large number of applications, including people travelling for compassionate reasons.
Public safety will review the applications, Morrison said.
She also clarified that seasonal properties don’t include RVs or campers on someone’s land and only apply to fixed-roof residences.
Morrison said it has been 83 days since the World Health Organization declared a pandemic.
There are no new cases in P.E.I., which had 27 confirmed cases with all of them considered recovered.
Morrison said there were 590 new negative tests since last week.
More details to come later online and in our print and e-editions
