COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, Oct. 2

Next Thursday, Oct. 8. travellers will no longer be screened by New Brunswick officials at the Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia borders, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs told a briefing Friday.

A report from the P.E.I. Council on the Status of Women released Friday morningaims to preserve the views of women on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Dennis King confirmed Friday thatCanada's COVID-19 contact notification app will soon be in use on Prince Edward Island. A news release saidIslanders with health cards will receive one-time "keys" or codes from their health authorities to use with the app.

The Atlantic provinces should consider taking a more targeted approach in their COVID-19 restrictions to minimize the "unintended consequences" on the economy and public health, according to some regional chief medical officers.

The Access PEI office in Montague will reopens its doors to the public Oct. 26, a release from the province says.

The Green Party of Canada was going to elect a new leader in Charlottetown this weekend, but pandemic restrictions have forced it to move to a virtual space.

P.E.I.Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison gave CBC News: Compass an update on changes that came into effect Thursday under the province's new normal.

Hockey fanswill be allowed in the stands at Charlottetown Islanders games, although tickets will be very limited to allow for physical distancing.

A Charlottetown manwho is awaiting sentencing for failure to self-isolate due to COVID-19has had other criminal charges related to a domestic disturbance the day of his arrestsent to analternative measures program.

Some Islanders living in Montreal say there's uncertainty and lowered morale as the city has been forced into lockdown again with COVID-19 case numbers climbing.

There have been 59confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Island, with 57 considered recovered. There have been no hospitalizations or deaths, and there is no evidence of community spread.

Also in the news

• A P.E.I. couple ishoping the U.S. border will reopen in time for them to spend time in their Arizona home this winter.
• The P.E.I. economy is performing better than expected in the pandemic, says P.E.I. Finance Minister Darlene Compton.
• Coach Atlantic says it lost a $1 million contract after one of its top touroperators from the United States cancelled all visits to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick for 2021.
• Following the announcement that all P.E.I. school Christmas craft fairs would be prohibited this year due to COVID-19, anewweekend craft shop for local artisansis opening on the Island leading up to the holidays.
• The P.E.I. giant pumpkin weigh-off is closed to the public this yearbut the scales will still be ready for growers on Thanksgiving weekend.

Further resources

• Here isinformation for livingwith the COVID-19 pandemic on P.E.I. including information on government relief programs, physical distancing measures, and essential health services.
• Here is achart tracking COVID-19 numbers and a timeline of COVID-19-related events on P.E.I.
• Here isa guide onwhat parents and students need to knowabout attending school.

More COVID-19 stories from CBC P.E.I.