Three new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in P.E.I.
Chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison provided the update this afternoon during an unscheduled briefing.
Calling it a “cluster,” Morrison said all three cases are women in their 20s who work at two Charlottetown restaurants. The cases are linked and are close contacts of each other.
Though the investigation into these cases has only begun, the women had no recent travel outside of the province and no source has been identified, said Morrison.
“It is too early to suggest there is widespread community transmission, however I am becoming increasingly concerned.”
The latest cases bring the total in P.E.I. to 76 since the pandemic began, with 8 active cases on the Island.
The women are mildly symptomatic at home and doing well.
Morrison identified three possible exposure sites related to the latest cases:
- A&W at 650 University Ave. on Nov. 30, Dec. 2 and Dec. 4
- Wendy’s at 643 University Ave. on Dec. 1, 2 and 4
- T3 Transit bus route 1 on Nov. 30 between 4-5 p.m., Dec. 2 between 2-3 p.m. and 10-11 p.m., as well Dec. 4 between 1:30-2:30 p.m.
After the briefing was over these additional exposure sites were identified:
- T3 Transit bus route 1 on Dec. 1 between 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m., as well as Dec. 4 between 6-7 a.m and 5-6 p.m.
Anyone who was in these locations at these times should monitor themselves closely for symptoms of COVID-19 and arrange to be tested and self-isolate if they develop, said Morrison.
“We anticipate that there may be additional public exposure notifications later today as we gather more information from these cases through our contact tracing process.”
Any further exposure notifications will be posted on the government COVID-19 website.
In the meantime, both restaurants are closed or in the process of being closed as staff are notified to get tested and isolate and the restaurants undergo cleaning.
Last weekend, the same Wendy’s Restaurant was identified as a possible exposure location linked to a Charlottetown Rural High School student, but Morrison said it is unlikely that case or school is related to this new cluster.
While Morrison thinks any public exposures were minimal due to current COVID-19 regulations on buses and at the restaurants, both she and Premier Dennis King urged Islanders to continue to be diligent, given the case in the school and this recent cluster.
“It’s not the time to let our guard down,” said King. “We are in the grip of a second wave across this country and in this region and that requires each and every Prince Edward Islander to dig in just a little bit harder for just a little bit longer.”
More details to come later online and in our print and e-editions.
