P.E.I. reports 5 new cases of COVID-19, adds public exposure site

Prince Edward Island is reporting five new cases of COVID-19.

The province's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison announced the five new cases, all related to travel outside Atlantic Canada, on Friday. Contract tracing is complete and the individuals are self-isolating.

Three of the individuals are in their 20s, one is in their 30s and one is under the age of 10.

No flight exposure notifications have been released.

Later on Friday afternoon, the Chief Public Health Office issued a potential public exposure notice.

A person from Atlantic Canada, who was recently on P.E.I.,tested positive for COVID-19 after returning home. The CPHO said the person may have been able to transmit the coronaviruswhile on the Island.

The potential exposure occurred at the Cork and Cast restaurant on Weymouth Street in Charlottetown on Wednesday, Aug. 25 between 1 and 3:30 p.m.

People at the restaurant during that time who are not fully vaccinated should get tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate until the results come back, the CPHO said. They are being advised to monitor for symptoms for 14 days even after an initial negative test and should get retested if symptoms develop.

"Individuals at the potential exposure site at the specified timewho are fully vaccinated(fully vaccinated means14 days after receiving the second dose of an approved vaccine)should closely monitor for symptoms and if they become symptomatic, immediately get tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate until the results come back," the release said.

P.E.I. now has eight active cases, anda total case count of 230 since the pandemic hit the Island last year.

Meanwhile, the P.E.I. Public Schools Branch (PSB) andLa Commission scolaire de langue franaise(CSLF) announced earlier Fridaythey are taking the advice ofthe Chief Public Health Office, and will require masks for students and staff on buses and in some parts of schools this fall, said a written news release Friday.

As of Thursday, 91per cent of the eligible population had received at least one dose of vaccine and 79.6 per cent had received two doses.

Islanders over the age of 12 are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19.