COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Friday, Dec. 11

No new cases of COVID-19 were announced Friday,markingfour days in a row of no positive COVID-19 cases on P.E.I.

In an unscheduled briefing Friday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison and Premier Dennis King said it is possible the so-called circuit breaker measurescould be slowly eased earlier than Dec. 21.

Morrison also said she is anticipating a vaccine to arrive soon, and the first high-priority groups could be immunized by Wednesday.

Morrison made a change Thursday in who should get tested for COVID-19 due to the high number of people who have been swabbed through the week. You no longer have to seek an immediate COVID-19 test if you're in your 20s living in the Charlottetown, Stratford and Cornwall area unless you are experiencing symptoms.

A P.E.I. woman has been asked to repay $18,500 in CERB benefits by the end of the year, after being told she didn't qualify for the benefit after all.

The province said forabout 380 tests at UPEI on Thursday, it used anew kind of rapid testthat can give results in 15 minutes.

Premier Dennis King said Ottawa has agreed to pick up the full costs of the COVID-19 vaccine, which he called a win for the provinces.

The owner of a tuna processing company in North Lake is lending the province two lab-approved freezers to help store COVID-19 vaccines.

The Charlottetown Farmers' Market will be open during its regular hours Saturday, buta maximum of 50 patrons will be allowed inside at a time.

Island food banks are in need of donations ahead of the holiday season.Organizers say COVID-19 could be playing a role in turkey donations coming in slower than usual this year.

Also in the news

• Hanukkah celebrations on Prince Edward Island are a bit different this year due to COVID-19.
• P.E.I. dentists have been postponing or cancelling appointments for Islanders in their 20s.
• Communities are feeling the effects of the new public health measures as rinks and community halls shut down.
• Beauty salons say they are dealing with cancellations during this latest phase, and at least one closed temporarily.
• Some restaurants on P.E.I. have been forced to cut back hours and lay off employees as new public health measures forbidding indoor dining take effect.
• Air Canada issuspending its flights between Charlottetown and Torontoin the new year as fewer people fly during the pandemic, but is adding flights between Charlottetown and Montreal.
• Here's a list of what Islanderscan and can't doin the next two weeks, during what is being called a "COVID circuit breaker."
• Here's a map showing possibleCOVID-19 exposure areasand the times of possible exposures.
• Students and staff in P.E.I. public school grades 7-9 must now abide bymasking rulesbrought in recently for high school students.

Further resources

• Here isinformation for livingwith the COVID-19 pandemic on P.E.I. including information on government relief programs, physical distancing measuresand essential health services.
• 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.