COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Thursday, June 11

Most Atlantic premiers appearhesitant to allow travel within their provinces, despite P.E.I. Premier Dennis King's recent remarkthat a travel bubble could be set up as early as the beginning of July.

P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison announcedPhase 4 of the easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions will start June 26.

This further opening up of the province, as well as the potential opening of interprovincial borders within Atlantic Canada, will mean Islanders will have to refocus on the basics of pandemic guidelines, such as physical distancing, handwashing and enhanced cleaning, Morrison said.

Morrison also discussed family reunification for Islanders who have family members outside of Atlantic Canada. Morrison said an application process is being set up for those family reunions.

Marion Dowling, chief of nursing for Health PEI, said a number ofhealth services continue to berestored this week.

Those includeambulatory care at the Prince County Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, lab services, diagnostic imaging, and OBGYN clinics.

Other COVID-19 stories

P.E.I.'s tourism industry, worth more than $500 million to the Island's economy last year, could shrink to less than $100 million this year.

Staff at an Island real estate company have come together to launch the Helping Hands initiative to givepeople in need access to essential items should a second wave of COVID-19 hit P.E.I.

After three rejected applications, a P.E.I. mother will soon be reunited with her son and parents from Newfoundland.

Seasonal residents are expressing frustration with the application process for coming to P.E.I.

The Atlantic Provinces Economic Council has laid out an argument for balancing economic and social concerns with health restrictions during the pandemic.

P.E.I. has had 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19. All have recovered. Close to 8,000 COVID-19 tests from P.E.I. have been done.

Also in the news

• The Opposition expressed concern in the legislature about the disproportionate economic hardship being faced by women in the pandemic, and the government agrees the situation is unacceptable.
• Restaurateurs on Prince Edward Island are finding business steady, but not yet busy,after reopening their dining rooms last Monday.
• Prince Edward Island has reopened mental health and addictions clinics for walk-in service.
• The Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association has joinedAtlantic University Sportin cancellingits fallsports season.
• A West Prince woman is upset restrictions are keeping dozens of family members from her aunt's funeral.
• The pandemic has created unique challenges for people facing dying and mourning, grieving experts say.

Further resources

• Here isinformation for livingwith the COVID-19 pandemic on P.E.I. including information on government relief programs, physical distancing measures, andessential health services.
• Here is acharttracking COVID-19 numbers and a timeline of COVID-19-related events on P.E.I.

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