COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Thursday, Aug. 27

Reopening P.E.I.'s borders to visitors from Atlantic Canada in July did not provide the boost three restaurateurs contacted by CBC News had hoped for.

Ninety-five per cent of the meetings and conventions set to take placeon the Island this year have been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UPEI Student Union says post-secondary students will face financial issuesif the federal government does notextend its suspension of the payment of student loan debt and interest.

The number of reports to child protection services on P.E.I. is rising, despite reports not being available from regular sources such as teachers and coaches.

Military officers are completing their training exercises on P.E.I. this week instead of New Brunswick because of COVID-19.

P.E.I. is expecting toreceive $10.4 million from a $2-billion federal fund meant to ease the coronavirus-related costs of reopening public schools this fall.

Not every student who develops a cold or a sniffle will be sent home from school, says the acting director of the P.E.I.Public Schools Branch.

The Public Schools Branch has outlined how teachers are prepared to help students deal with pandemic anxiety.

P.E.I. is hoping to further ease restrictions on visiting in long-term care facilities, says Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison.

P.E.I. has confirmed a total of 44cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with no deaths or hospitalizations. Forty-one of those cases are considered to be recovered.

Also in the news

• Elections Canada is ramping up its plan to run an electionthat might come as early as this fall.
• Get your paperwork ready earlyfor transition from CERB to EI, economist David Macdonald says.
• There is limited space for new inmates at theProvincial Correctional Centre because ofpandemic restrictions, and that has led to some delays in sentencing.
• Islander Annie Boyle surprised the residents of Whisperwood Villa in Charlottetown with the delivery 15 handmade lap quiltsshe made during the pandemic lockdown.
• The province has opened a new drop-in/drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic in Charlottetown.
• While the P.E.I. restaurant industry is suffering, it is doing better than the national average.

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.

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