The Chief Public Health Office is advising Islanders travelling outside of Canada to take precautions and closely monitor their health for 14 days after returning home.
While there are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Prince Edward Island, Islanders returning from out-of-country travel are encouraged to take the following precautions for a two-week period even if they are feeling well:
- avoid attending large gatherings
- delay visiting elderly people or anyone with underlying medical conditions
- call 8-1-1 for instructions if experiencing any new symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
Planning is underway for the potential increased testing of Islanders returning from out-of-country travel, this includes establishing two locations for COVID-19 swab testing for symptomatic individuals.
Government has established a special situation response group, which includes representatives from various government departments and agencies, to consider and prepare for all impacts related to COVID-19 to the province, including economic.
The Chief Public Health Office continues to work closely with the federal government, provincial and territorial counterparts, government departments and Health PEI to continue to monitor the situation globally, nationally and locally. The public health risk of COVID-19 is continually reassessed and Islanders will be updated as new information becomes available.
Everyone is encouraged to follow routine prevention measures (listed below) to stay healthy, as respiratory viruses that cause the common cold or other illness, like the flu, are currently circulating in communities.
Prevention measures include:
- Washing hands frequently with soap and water
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue
- If ill with acute respiratory symptoms, stay home if possible
- Limit touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Don’t share items like drinking glasses and water bottles
- Frequently clean surfaces like taps, doorknobs and countertops
For more information, visit www.princeedwardisland.ca/alerts.