CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A provincial lab has begun limited testing on P.E.I. for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 strain).
In a media briefing Thursday, chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison said the lab has been performing local tests since Wednesday afternoon. Tests will focus on health-care workers and individuals who may be symptomatic who are in long-term care homes.
The province has relied on sending all tests to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg, but this process has meant health authorities face a delay in receiving test results. Once results are received, health officials find themselves two or three days behind in terms of treatment or contact tracing for confirmed cases.
On Tuesday, Morrison said the province’s testing lab will not be fully operational for “one to two weeks.” As a result, most tests will still be sent to Winnipeg.
Morrison reported one new local case of coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases on P.E.I. to 22. The latest case was a man from Queens County who had travelled abroad. The man self-isolated upon return.
“Yet again, another important example of why people need to self-isolate. I spoke to him this morning, and he is at home and doing well,” Morrison said.
Morrison said P.E.I. received 144 negative tests yesterday. Close to 900 people have been tested for the virus on P.E.I.
Three individuals have recovered from COVID-19. There have been no hospitalizations, no deaths and no cases of community transmission on P.E.I. so far.
Morrison said correctional facilities are currently closed to visitors. She said new cleaning and disinfecting measures have been put in place. New individuals will be placed in single-person cells for 14 days and will be permitted to be out of the cells one at a time.
Morrison also said essential workers travelling to P.E.I., such as truck drivers, health workers or construction workers, should self-isolate when not on the job. On Wednesday evening, the provincial government announced it would be turning away non-essential travellers to the Island, who have crossed the Confederation Bridge.
Morrison again appealed to the public to practise physical distancing, maintaining two metres of distance with other people and minimizing time outside of one’s home. She said most people have been practising this, but some have not.
"One of the many things that keeps me up at night is worrying about what will happen if we get widespread community transmission in P.E.I.," Morrison said.
"The more we comply with these public health measures of practising these physical distancing, self-isolating when you need to return from travel, the better chance we have of flattening the curve and slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our province."
Morrison added she believes the social distancing measures will likely remain in place for a few months.
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