COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, Nov. 13

During the first day of the fall sitting of the legislature Thursday, opposition MLAs were after the government to explain why the psychiatric ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital was closed for so long, waiting for COVID-19 patients who never came.

Charlottetown Airport CEO Doug Newson expressed concern that more flights may be cut, but Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said she doesn't think rapid airport testing of passengers is a solution to jump-starting the industryright now.

The province has further eased restrictions at long-term care homes in the province. Residents may now receive unscheduled visits in their rooms.

The community theatre group ACT is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year in a year when so many productions were shut down or cancelled due to public health restrictions during the pandemic by staging a radio play with only a handful of actors.

Following a case of COVID-19 in a rotational worker, the Chief Public Health Office is reminding other rotational workers of the special rules that allow them to do their work outside the Atlantic bubble, and see their families while they are on P.E.I.

The COVID-19 case announced Wednesday in on top ofonecase announced Tuesday and two announcedFriday.

That brings the total active cases to four in the province. P.E.I. has seen a total of 68cases, with no deaths and no hospitalizations.

Also in the news

• P.E.I. is aiming to start COVID-19 vaccinations in early 2021 in the wake of promising news from drug manufacturer Pfizer this week.
• The Charlottetown Legion is bracing for a big drop in funds raised in its poppy campaign this year, which means less money for charities supporting veterans.
• P.E.I. has put in an order for more flu vaccines after distributing nearly 79,200 doses. The Chief Public Health Office called it one of the largest uptakes ever.

Further resources

• Here isinformation for livingwith the COVID-19 pandemic on P.E.I. including information on government relief programs, physical distancing measuresand essential health services.
• Here is achart tracking COVID-19 numbers and a timeline of COVID-19-related events on P.E.I.
• Here is a look at how coronavirus isspreading across Canada.

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