COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Saturday, Aug. 8

Walmart willrequire all customers and staff to wear a maskin its stores across Canadastarting Wednesday.

Tamara Hubley-Little, the province's director of English education,says the school yearis going to be "front-loaded" in case students have to return to learning from home. Education goals will be pursued early in the year, but Hubley-Little said it doesn't mean more homework.

The Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapyis offering free therapy for front-line workers to help with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summersideis encouraging take-out from local restaurants bybuildingpicnic stations in its downtown. Last weekend, Island restaurants were so busy some hadto turn away customersbecause of COVID-19 restrictions.

Despite the pandemic, the annualArt in the Open festival says it will be backthis yearwith"big, bold, ambitious art installationsthat can be viewed from a distance, that people can experience at multiple different levels."

The Island has no active cases of COVID-19. The province has reported a total of 36 cases, with no deaths or hospitalizations.

Also in the news

• The unemployment rate on P.E.I. fell 3.5 percentage points in July, but the drop was caused byan increase in part-time workand thousands leaving the labour force.
• Charlottetown policearecracking down on motorcycle noiseand speedin the downtown corethey're getting an influx of complaints from residents this summer, and attribute that to more people being home because of the pandemic.
• New numbers show Prince Edward Island business closures, which had been hovering around 200 a month for more than a year,shot to 428 in Aprilas the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
• The P.E.I. governmentannounced itsback-to-school planfor September.

Further resources

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

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