The province’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Heather Morrison, has announced the first phase of the government’s “Renew P.E.I. Together” plan.
The plan will be implemented in four distinct phases with a progressive lifting of public health measures on individuals, communities and organizations over three-week periods. Decisions during each phase will be based on public health evidence and continuous monitoring. If there are concerns about progressing into a next phase, progress will be slowed, halted or even reversed to continue to protect the health and safety of Islanders.
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Priority non-urgent health care services will begin on Friday, May 1 — including certain elective surgeries and select health service providers including physiotherapists, optometrists and chiropractors.
Also beginning May 1, outdoor gatherings and non-contact outdoor recreational activities of no more than five individuals from different households will be permitted, as long as participants maintain physical distancing.
For the foreseeable future, the screening will continue at points of entry to the province and all persons entering P.E.I. will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
BUSINESS, SERVICES & ACTIVITIES ALLOWED DURING PHASE 1
Outdoor gatherings defined as no more than a total of five people from different households can get together for non-contact outdoor recreational activities. No more than five individuals involving people from different households, while maintaining physical distance (e.g. deck and driveway visits, walks).
- Allow recreational activities including, for example:
- Walking, hiking, cycling and motorcycling
- Golf courses, driving ranges and shooting ranges
- Current PEI residents going to their own seasonal properties on PEI
- Recreational fishing, including inland and tidal water fisheries and all recreational shellfish
- Marinas and yacht clubs
- Do not share food, plates or cutlery.
- Do not share equipment among people from different households for recreational purposes.
Re-opening of select outdoor and construction services
The following services will now be able to serve the public:
- landscaping
- outdoor construction (e.g. decks, roofing, fencing)
- new construction including roads, and indoor projects as per physical distancing guidelines
- watershed clean-up and stream maintenance
- pool maintenance and construction
- outdoor photography, etc.
Child care services
Child care for essential service workers is available.
Priority non-urgent health care services
It is recommended that health care delivery continue virtually where possible and feasible. Workers are encouraged to use personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by point-of-care risk assessment and/or as recommended depending on your practice/location.
- A phased approach to reintroducing certain elective surgeries and other priority services (e.g. cardiac supports, cancer screening, immunizations) that have been identified and assessed to mitigate long term significant health impacts while maintaining capacity to treat COVID-19 patients.
Select health service providers, including, for example:
- physiotherapists;
- optometrists and opticians;
- chiropractors;
- foot care providers;
- occupational therapy;
- naturopaths
Public services
Priority public services
Education
Home-based learning options, with some limited activities, will continue.
Long-term care
Visitor restrictions remain in place.
PHASES 2 to 4
If phase 1 proceeds successfully, the Province will re-introducing indoor gatherings of no more than five individuals and outdoor gatherings of no more than 10 individuals involving people from different households, as well as non-contact indoor recreational activities from May 22 as part of Phase 2. Clothing stores (with no trying on clothes), select personal services including hairdressers, barbers, and pet grooming will be allowed.
Phase 3 will potentially start from June 12, 2020 with gatherings of no more than 15 people indoor, and 20 people outdoors (for example, religious gatherings, large families having visitors or playing frisbee in the park). Organized recreational activities and facilities might be allowed with personal services, indoor dining and accommodations open to PEI residents only.
There is no date set for phase 4 where-in large festivals and events will be allowed with life returning to as normal as possible.
More information about the plan is available here.
— With Files From the Canadian Press