COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Sunday, July 5

After more than two months, Prince Edward Island is no longer free of COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.'s chief public health officer, announced two new cases in the province at a news briefing Sunday.

That brings the total number of active cases on the Island to five.

The two new cases are both in their 20s and are close contacts of one of the three cases reported Saturday.

The three reported cases Saturday a man in his 50s and two people, a man and women in their 20s are Island residents and essential workers.

The 20-year-old man was asymptomatic and travelled to Nova Scotia for personal reasons and came in contact with an individual who had travelled to the U.S.,Morrison said.

Five people were tested who were close contacts with the individual, and two of the cases came back positive.

Of the province's three positive cases announced Saturday, one was also a contact of the Island man who travelled back to P.E.I. from Nova Scotia. She is an employee of Whisperwood Villa, a privately owned longterm carehome in Charlottetown.

Morrison said visits to the facility have now been halted and 129 residents and 140 staff at the facility tested negative for COVID-19 Saturday but Morrison said those people will also be tested again at the end of the week.

The new cases bring the province's COVID-19 total to 32.

This is also the first weekend of the Atlantic bubble.

Pandemic restrictions were lifted for Atlantic Canadians on Friday, allowing movement among the four provinces without a two-week quarantine.

However, each province still has checkpoints and rules for entry.

Travellers destined for P.E.I. have to fill out a declaration form before entering the province to prove they live in Atlantic Canada.

Also in the news

• The P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation'sseven sites are now openwith new protocols in place adhering to COVID-19 restrictions.
• Some Island parents areraising concernsabout missing details in the province's back to school plan.
• One woman is using COVID-19 as a reason tovisit every lighthouseon the Island.
• It's never easy to be in recovery from addiction, but thepandemic has brought new challenges.
• The Atlantic business community is concerned about the long-term implications of thesuspension of some of Air Canada's flight routesin the region.
• A legislative committeerejected proposed changesto P.E.I.'s Emergency Measures Act.
• P.E.I. lifeguard services will be supervising more Island beaches this year. They will also have anadded duty asking people to spread out if they get too close to other beachgoers to maintain physical distancing guidelines put in place due to COVID-19.

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.