COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Thursday, June 24

Prince Edward Island markedan important milestone Thursday, confirming 80.1 per cent of people over 12 have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Inan interview Thursday with CBC News: Compass, P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrisondiscussed the PEI Pass and reaching the 80-per-cent vaccination milestone.

P.E.I.'s Department of Health says the province's mobile mental health crisis response service should be ready for a full launch by early fall, after shiftingresponsibility for itfrom Health PEI to Medavie Health Services, the private company responsible for ambulance service onP.E.I.

The Prince Edward Island lieutenant-governor's office is awarding a special coin to Islanders who have done good deeds for their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meetings andConventions Prince Edward Island has launched a new campaign called the "double bubble" promotionto attract Atlantic Canadian groups to the Island. Incentives includediscounts on rooms,extra Canada's Food Island gift cards, Northumberland Ferries passesand vouchers for rounds ofgolf.

The P.E.I. Student Drama Festival took to the stage virtually in 2021, with class performances professionally filmed and edited and then posted online.

P.E.I.'s Matt Corcoran learned to play guitar during the pandemic and has been entertaining people on social media with his cover songs, including an Island version ofI've been Everywhere which has gone viral, inwhich he namesdozens of Island communities.

Policemade arrests as theymoved to dispersea large group of protesters at themain border crossing between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick,just a day after a demonstration around border restrictions began. Some Islanders were caught up in the traffic jam there for hours.

The City of Charlottetown announced that it will be celebrating Canada Day with in-person celebrations this summer though things will bedifferent than usual, with COVID-19 restrictions in place.

P.E.I. chief of nursing Marion Dowling spoke to CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin aboutsecond vaccine doses: what Islanders are getting, how to book and some technical glitches in the process. She also said Islanders may get a differentmRNA vaccine as theirsecond dose

Islanders still looking to book their first COVID-19 vaccine shot now have 26 pharmacies across P.E.I. from which to choose, according to a government news release.

Also in the news

• AP.E.I. sand sculptor won the top prize at aU.S. contest for his personal sculpture called Empty.
• Grade 9 students at East Wiltshire Intermediate created a new trail on their school property.
• A P.E.I. family is pleading for health officialsto agree to fund a hemophilia drug called Hemlibra.
• The P.E.I. Nurses' Union is raising concerns about the cost to the province of using a private agency to cover nursing shifts at Summerside's Prince County Hospital.

TheseIslanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over 12.
• Islanders over 18can book an appointment for Moderna vaccine at a pharmacy.

You can find more information about how to get a vaccinehere.

Further resources

• Here isa chart of COVID-19 cases on P.E.I. since March 2020, and a timelineof pandemic events.
• Here is a look at how coronavirus isspreading across Canada.

Reminder about symptoms

The symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

• Fever.
• Cough or worsening of a previous cough.
• Possible loss of taste and/or smell.
• Sore throat.
• New or worsening fatigue.
• Headache.
• Shortness of breath.
• Runny nose.

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