COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, June 12

A foot-care clinic in Montague, that includes people with diabetes among its 50 patients, is not sure when it will be safe to reopen.

A bill that would give Premier Dennis King's cabinet the power to suspend or alter provincial laws during a state of emergency faced stiff opposition in the P.E.I. Legislature.

While Phase 4 of P.E.I.'s ease-back plan has given some musicians hope ahead of the summer, some are still worried.

The price of gas and other petroleum products continues to rise toward pre-pandemic levels.

Eastlink Centre will be offering cash refunds for cancelled events.

Most Atlantic premiers appearhesitant to allow travel within their provinces, despite P.E.I. Premier Dennis King's recent remarkthat a travel bubble could be set up as early as the beginning of July.

P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison announcedPhase 4 of the easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions will start June 26. Morrison talked to Compass host Louise Martin about the plan.

The inclusion of larger public gatherings in the plan pleases local sports groups as well as churches.

Two more festivals have cancelled for 2020.

The Shellfish Festival would have celebrated its 25th anniversary in September, and the Cool Moon Festival, planned for October by theGreat Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society, would have seen pop-up performances across P.E.I.

P.E.I. has had 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19. All have recovered. Close to 8,000 COVID-19 tests from P.E.I. have been done.

Also in the news

• P.E.I.'s tourism industry, worth more than $500 million to the Island's economy last year, could shrink to less than $100 million this year.
• Staff at an Island real estate company have come together to launch an initiative to givepeople in need access to essential items should a second wave of COVID-19 hit P.E.I.
• After three rejected applications, a P.E.I. mother will soon be reunited with her son and parents from Newfoundland.
• Seasonal residents are expressing frustration with the application process for coming to P.E.I.

Further resources

• Here isinformation for livingwith the COVID-19 pandemic on P.E.I. including information on government relief programs, physical distancing measures, andessential health services.
• Here is acharttracking COVID-19 numbers and a timeline of COVID-19-related events on P.E.I.

More COVID-19 stories from CBC P.E.I.