COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening the week of Oct. 24

Moving staff to COVID-19 duties has meant closing 42 long-term care beds.

Pharmacists are busy delivering flu shots while still offering the COVID-19 vaccine.

Elections P.E.I. is reminding COVID-wary voters they can cast their ballots by mail in the upcoming District 16 byelection.

Residents of P.E.I.'s long-term care facilities have started receiving their third doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

P.E.I. announced two new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bothpeople are in their 40sandrecently travelled outside of Prince Edward Island. These are currently the only active cases on the Island.

After a two-year absence due to COVID-19 health restrictions, the Cavendish Beach Music Festival is moving forward with plans for its 12thyear next July.

The City of Charlottetown is implementing a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Charlottetown's food bank is seeing a drop in donations, and staff believe the end of pandemic support programs are a factor.

Recreational vehicles are among the items in short supply because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UPEI Faculty Association says it is taking too long for the university to release a report on air quality, the first step in improving ventilation and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Supply chain problems caused by the pandemic mean people will have to continue to wait for new vehicles, probably into next year.

After a three-week grace period, the province says it will start enforcing its Vax Pass rules next week.

The QR code version of the P.E.I. Vax Pass is now available, and the province is putting up funding to help organizations buy tablets to scan them.

It is within an employer'srights to ask forvaccination status, a human resources expert says.Thoughasking for record can raise privacy concerns.

One Islander's solution to keeping his Vax Pass handy is printing it on a T-shirt.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a renewed interest in chess on P.E.I.

The P.E.I. tourism industry saw good signs of recovery in August, even with a surprising lack of visitors from New Brunswick.

P.E.I. classrooms that do not yet have mechanical ventilation are getting HEPA filters as an interim measure.

Current cases

P.E.I. currently has two active cases and has seen a total of 317.

Elsewhere in Atlantic Canada

• New Brunswick announced 48 new cases on Friday for a total of 556 active cases. The Horizon and Vitalit health networkssaid they will return to orange alert level Monday.
• Nova Scotia reported 26 new cases on Friday, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 169.
• Newfoundland and Labrador said that starting Monday, masks will be mandatory indoors for K-3 students as well as regulated child-care centre staff. The province reported eight new cases since Wednesday for a total of 99 active cases.

The P.E.I. Vax Pass

The P.E.I. Vax Pass is now required at a number of businesses and events. Here's a look athow to get the pass, and how it works.

How to access your vaccination record

3 years ago

Duration 0:38

P.E.I.'s Vax Pass rules are now in effect. Here's how to access your record.

Here's alistof where you need to show proof of vaccination on P.E.I.

And, here's a look at how the vax pass can protect you.

Where you'll need your Vax Pass

3 years ago

Duration 0:55

P.E.I.'s Vax Pass rules are now in effect. Here's where you will and won't need to show your proof of vaccination.

Top news from last week

• Full vaccination is now mandatory at UPEI and Holland College, but what that means is different at the two schools.
• Vaccines for children aged five to 11 could be available by Christmas, says P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Office. Child health psychologists Kathryn Birnie of the University of Calgary and Meghan McMurtry of the University of Guelph have put together a checklist of techniques to help get your children through it.
• P.E.I. lowersthe age for people to get vaccinated for COVID-19 at pharmacies, in an effort to get more young people vaccinated.
• Vaccination clinics have beengetting busy again following the introduction of the P.E.I. Vax Pass.

TheseIslanders are currently eligible for a vaccine

• People over 12.
• Islanders can book an appointment to receive thevaccine at a pharmacy or a public health clinic.
• You can find more information about how to get a vaccinehere.

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.