THE ISLAND ADDING CLARITY
Further clarification of relaxed physical distancing rules provided in briefing
In her Monday briefing, Dr. Heather Morrison focuses on what relaxed physical distancing rules entail
After P.E.I.’s first weekend under relaxed physical distancing rules, which allowed indoor gatherings over Mother’s Day, P.E.I.’s chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison provided further clarification of the new measures.
Under the new measures, announced Friday, indoor gatherings of up to five are permitted, as well as outdoor gatherings of up to 10.
Physical distancing of two metres should still be maintained for everyone who does not already live together.
One new exception to this rule is that households can choose up to two people with whom they can have closer contact, sharing hugs or handshakes.
"Islanders are now able to extend your household to reconnect with a loved one or support person," Morrison said.
“These are people who you (may) choose to be part of your family unit where you would maybe have daily interactions, daily life support, whether it's emotional or physical.”
Sleepovers for children are still risky, Morrison said.
"Sleepovers are not currently recommended outside of your own household or perhaps the extension of your own household to one or two people," Morrison said.
Playdates for children can occur outside or inside, as long as the rules of physical distancing are maintained, but toys should not be shared.
In terms of indoor gatherings, Morrison said food should not be shared. For example, popcorn should be served in separate bowls, rather than passed around. Individuals who are feeling ill should not visit other households.
"It would be really unfortunate if we go too quickly without caution and we impact our whole summer," Morrison said.
All 27 of the positive cases identified on the Island are considered recovered.
There have been no detected cases of community transmission, and no one has been hospitalized to date.
Health P.E.I. chief of nursing Marion Dowling also provided an update on shipments of ventilators ordered early in the pandemic.
Ventilators are a critical piece of medical equipment that help patients with severe respiratory issues to breathe.
A shortage of ventilators produced chaotic scenes in late March in New York State, where health-care workers were faced with the wrenching choice of rationing ventilators among seriously ill patients.
P.E.I. currently has 29 ventilators, 10 of which have been received from the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile since mid-April.
The Island initially requested another 16 ventilators from the NESS. These were reallocated to other regions by the federal government.
Dowling said the province has yet to receive an additional 27 ventilators ordered through federal or provincial bulk purchasing.
Twelve of these were through provincial purchasing while 15 were ordered through the federal government.
"We have not received any others from the federal government bulk purchase request,” Dowling said.
The 12 ventilators ordered provincially have also yet to arrive.
"We're still anticipating those arriving this month, but we haven't got a confirmed date for those yet.”