P.E.I. further tightens restrictions for travel within Atlantic Canada

Prince Edward Island is imposing new travel restrictions because ofrising COVID-19 case numbers in the Atlantic region.

The province's Chief Public Health Office announced the changes in a news release late Friday afternoon.

"Given changes in epidemiology and increased infectious pressure in Atlantic Canada in the past few days, it is necessary to increase restrictions and enhance testing for people travelling to PEI from Atlantic Canada, similar to the recent changes for people travelling to PEI from outside Atlantic Canada,"Dr. Heather Morrison said in the news release.

"This is a critical time and we need to take steps to further tighten our borders and restrict travel to the province."

Peopletravelling within the Atlantic region on a same-day exemption from having to isolate for 14 days are the most affected thosegoing out-of-province and back within 24 hours for things like medical appointments or trips to pick upstudents after the end of the post-secondary school year.

The news release says anyone who has been to Nova Scotia since last Friday on a same-day travel exemption must now be tested on Day 4 and Day 8 after coming back to P.E.I.

As well, these same-day exemptions will now only be in place for people travelling for medical care, for job assignments where they do not see other people or go into buildings, and for passport renewal purposes.

People can also still pick up students or other individuals at airports, as long as they follow all the guidance that accompanies the 24-hour exemption. That means they must isolate until the passenger has a negative test, and the drivers must be tested as well on Days 4 and 8.

There will be no exemptions if people have to stay away overnight.

Additionally, effectiveMonday, April 26, there's a change for people work-isolating in P.E.I. following travel within the Atlantic provinces:A negative test result is required before entering any workplace.

Those travelling to P.E.I.from within Atlantic Canada through the province'sFamily Connections stream will be reviewed to determine if the travel is to provide necessary support to Island resident or compassionate situations, the release said.

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