COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, May 28

P.E.I.Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison reportedtwo new cases of COVID-19 on Prince Edward Island Friday, both people in their 30s who travelled outside Atlantic Canada.

Planning is already complete and the P.E.I. government will break ground Friday morning for an 18-lane parking lot at the foot of Confederation Bridge to accommodate COVID-19 testing for people arriving in the province.

With a pandemic and drought under its boots, the P.E.I.Federation of Agriculture says it's not surprised at all by the province's farm income stats for 2020: cash receipts are at an all-time high, but recent data from Statistics Canada suggests the total net farm income took a nosedive.

P.E.I.'s reopening plan as it emerges from the pandemic is getting good reviews from the tourism industry.

Premier Dennis King and Morrison announced thefive-step planfor reopening the province's borders Thursday. First, some restrictions will be eased on P.E.I., and by June 27 the Island should be ready to welcome visitors from the other Atlantic provinces, with rapid testing at borders.

King addressed concerns about long lineups to come to P.E.I. with that testing, as well as other details of the plan, in an interview with CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin.

Some Prince Edward Islanders will be getting second doses of COVID-19 vaccine sooner than expected. Morrison said public clinics are reducing the time between appointments from 16 weeks to 12 to 14 weeks.

The federal government has created a new fund to supportfestivals and events on P.E.I. through another summer of pandemic restrictions. It will be administered locally by the Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I.

There have been 202cases of COVID-19 on P.E.I. and12are considered active. There have been no deaths and two hospitalizations.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic region:

• Nova Scotia reported 40 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to 585.
• Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting14 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. It now has 96 active cases.
• Nine new caseswere confirmedin New Brunswick. It now has 139active cases.

Also in the news

• With this summer's tourism season uncertain, so are the prospects for students looking for summer jobs.
• Appointments for COVID-19 vaccines at 12 ofP.E.I.'s pharmacies are now available to all eligible adults.
• Businesses in eastern P.E.I. are keen to see the ferries reopened to non-commercial traffic.
• Many Canadians relying on employment insurance this year are in for a "rude awakening"come September, says P.E.I. Sen.Diane Griffin. That's when some measures meant to ease people off the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and onto EIare set to expire.

TheseIslanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over 12.
• Islanders over 18can book an appointment for a 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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