P.E.I. COVID-19 testing 'strained,' Morrison says as she announces changes

Most asymptomatic close contacts no longer need Day 4 tests, effective immediately, P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said Tuesday while citing limited testing resources.

Morrison announced704 new cases as of 8 a.m Tuesday, with 4,596total active cases.

She said the province will move ahead with Step 2 of its Moving On plan March 17 at 12:01 a.m., as planned, and will go ahead with Step 3 on or before April 7.

However, she said the province has seen a 30-per-cent increase in testing at its clinics.

"Our testing capacity is now strained," she said.

Therefore, eligibility for testing will change immediately. Close contacts must continue to monitor for symptoms and will only need a Day 4 test iftheylive or work in a high-risk setting including,nursing homes, corrections or First Nation communities. They should also isolate, Morrison said.

Close contacts with no symptoms should monitor themselves, but will not need a Day 4test.

"If you have symptoms and know you had close contact with a positive case, you can assume you're positive for COVID-19," Morrison said.

For example, if you're a close contact of a positive case a family member, including kids at child-care,orafriend who had a sleepoverand you develop symptoms, you don't need to be tested at a clinic and can assume you're positive with COVID-19. You will still need to isolate for sevendays if fully vaccinated or 10 days if not fully vaccinated.

We do expect to miss a small number of cases as a result of these changes. Dr. Heather Morrison

Symptomatic close contacts of a positive case who are over 50, under five years old, pregnant, not eligible for vaccines orimmunocompromised, shouldget tested at a clinic because of the possibility of more severe outcomes. Other symptomatic close contacts of positive cases do not need to seek testing and should assume they're positive.If a symptomatic household close contact believes there is another reason for their symptoms, they mayseek testing.

"Dropping the level of testing for asymptomatic close contacts does increase thelevel of risk. Approximately 88 per cent of individualswith COVID-19 do have symptoms. Sowe do expect to miss a small number of cases as a result of these changes."

The update comes as COVID-19 rates in the Island are at a record, with one in 40 Islanders having tested positive and being counted as an active case as of Monday.

The province has been easing pandemic restrictions after the Omicron wave peaked last month. Last week, P.E.I. discontinued its Vax Pass program and removed isolation requirements for vaccinated travelers.

March break advice

Morrison said she knows many Island families are looking forward to next week's March break from schools. She advised any families travelling to wear masks and closely monitor for symptoms.

She advised that children from kindergarten to Grade12 be tested three timesduring March breakusing their supply of rapid at-home tests on SundayMarch 13, Friday March 18 and Sunday March 20.

Morrison said these changes will come into effect at P.E.I. schools March 21:

• Cohorts in K-9 will increase to 100.

• Schools will no longer contactclose contacts of positive cases, instead everyone should self-monitorfor symptoms.

• Masking will still be required in schools, and will change in future to be consistent with public measures.

March 17, relaxed restrictions under Step 2 of the Moving On plan include personal gatherings allowing 20 people indoors or 50 outdoors, organized gatherings at 75 per centcapacity, fitness facilities and many other facilities at 75 per cent, wedding receptions ofup to 100 people, and organized sport and recreation with amaximumof 100 participants over the course of a day. Screening at points of entry such as the airport and Confederation Bridgewill continue, but will transition to randomtesting.

Morrison promised more details this week on the eased restrictions.

Easing restrictions while cases rise on P.E.I. may seem counterintuitive, Morrison said, butvaccinations add a layer of protection and "there's always an element where there'srisk assessment." She also noted the increased availability of treatments.

"We also have to balance because this is really hard on everyone," she said.

WATCH l Dr. Heather Morrison says rise in cases was 'expected':

'It's what we expected,' Morrison says of rising COVID-19 case counts on P.E.I.

3 years ago

Duration 9:02

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison says relaxed restrictions mean increased cases, but not more hospitalizations