COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Thursday, March 18

The four Atlantic premiers announced Thursday that they plan to reopen their provincial bordersfor freer travel byresidents of the region "by April 19,"barring any further serious outbreaks of COVID-19. Theannouncement hastourism operators excited.

The P.E.I. government unveiled a tourism action plan for 2021, which includes $1 million in assistance for Charlottetown Airport and $3 million for tourist operators to prepare their businesses after being devastated by COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.

Javan Nsangira, 23, who failed to self-isolate while he had COVID-19 in P.E.I. last summer was sentenced Thursday in P.E.I. Supreme Court to two years of probation.

A professor at the University of Prince Edward Island has developed a method to help curtail plagiarism, which he says has become more problematic after universities were forced to pivot abruptly to online learning and exams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic may have halted many St. Patrick's Day events last year, but on Wednesday at a church in Cardiganseniors were celebrating, and the bars were open.

The head of the P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association wants confirmation on who will pay for a three-day quarantine for temporary foreign workers.

A survey of immigrants on P.E.I. found the pandemic is likely to have lasting impacts in that community.

The pandemic left Summerside's Credit Union Place $1.2 million short in revenue.

P.E.I. has had 144diagnosed cases of COVID-19, with no deaths or hospitalizations. There are four active cases, according to the latest public health update on Tuesday.

Nova Scotia reportedthree new cases of COVID-19on Thursday and one death. The province now has 17active cases.

New Brunswick reported seven new cases Thursdayand Newfoundland and Labradorreported one new case,with 34 cases still considered active.

Also in the news

• Islanders between the ages of 18 and 29 who work atconvenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores can nowbook appointments to get a COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.'s chief public health officer, said inher regular weekly COVID-19 update Tuesday.
• All 10,000Canada's Food Island $50 gift cardsbeing offered at a 20-per-centdiscount have now been sold, only three days after going up for sale across P.E.I. in a bid to encourage local travel, dining and shopping.
• Maritime universities recorded a slight increase in the number of students during the pandemic, according to a study released Tuesday by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission.
• P.E.I.'s jails, partially emptied a year ago in response to the pandemic, have returned to their previous population levels.
• Four mass vaccination clinics will be starting up across P.E.I.as deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines ramp up in the coming weeks.

TheseIslanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over the age of 75.
• People aged 18 to 29 in the following occupations:
  - Food and beverage service.
  -Food delivery service.
  -Convenience store and gas station attendants.
  -Grocery store clerks.
• Firefighters, police officers, power-line workers.
• Residents and staff of long-term care homes.
• Adults living in Indigenous communities.
• Residents and staff of shared living facilities.
• Truck drivers and other rotational workers.

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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