Prince Edward Island's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison says the province has three new cases of COVID-19.
One is a man in his 50s, and two people are in their 20s, she said at an unscheduled briefing in Charlottetown today.
"COVID-19 has not gone away," she said, noting that the situation should act as a stark reminder of how important public messages have been, with regards to maintaining physical distancing and keeping a small social circle.
One of the two younger patients works at Whisperwood Villa in Charlottetown. All residents and staff are being tested starting Saturday afternoon.
No residents have shown symptoms
None of the residents have shown any new symptoms relating to COVID-19, Morrison said. Visits are being halted in light of the news.
The young female worked at the care facility recently, but she wore personal protective equipment, Morrison added.
Whisperwood has confirmed to public health officials that none of its staff work at other locations, she noted.
Morrison said the young staff member left work when she began feeling ill, and she is still experiencing symptoms.
The woman was a contact of the other younger patient, an Island man who travelled back to P.E.I. from Nova Scotia on June 29. While in Nova Scotia, he had contact with someone from the United States.
The older patient is an essential worker who travelled outside the region recently and has self-isolated since returning.
Had contact with young man returning from N.S.
At Tuesday's weekly COVID-19 briefing, Morrison said almost 1,400 new negative tests had returned since last week, and more than 11,500 tests had been done on P.E.I.
Prince Edward Island had 27 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the most recent on April 28. All have recovered.
Morrison said the cases are not related to either the approval process for seasonal residents or the Atlantic bubble.
No changes to Atlantic bubble for now
Premier Dennis King said contact tracing is underway in all three cases, and he will wait for the results before committing to any changes in P.E.I.'s current level of precautions.
"As of right now, nothing has changed," he said. "The three cases outlined are not connected to the Atlantic bubble," the process that allowed residents of the four Atlantic provinces to visit other places within the region without self-isolating as of Friday.
As for the younger Island man who drove back from Nova Scotia earlier this week, King said there was no question he had the right to do so.
King stressed that all three of the new cases involve Prince Edward Islanders, not residents of other provinces or countries.
"COVID doesn't care about your licence plate or your background or your geography," the premier said.
One is a man in his 50s, and two people are in their 20s, she said at an unscheduled briefing in Charlottetown today.
"COVID-19 has not gone away," she said, noting that the situation should act as a stark reminder of how important public messages have been, with regards to maintaining physical distancing and keeping a small social circle.
One of the two younger patients works at Whisperwood Villa in Charlottetown. All residents and staff are being tested starting Saturday afternoon.
No residents have shown symptoms
None of the residents have shown any new symptoms relating to COVID-19, Morrison said. Visits are being halted in light of the news.
The young female worked at the care facility recently, but she wore personal protective equipment, Morrison added.
Whisperwood has confirmed to public health officials that none of its staff work at other locations, she noted.
Morrison said the young staff member left work when she began feeling ill, and she is still experiencing symptoms.
The woman was a contact of the other younger patient, an Island man who travelled back to P.E.I. from Nova Scotia on June 29. While in Nova Scotia, he had contact with someone from the United States.
The older patient is an essential worker who travelled outside the region recently and has self-isolated since returning.
Had contact with young man returning from N.S.
At Tuesday's weekly COVID-19 briefing, Morrison said almost 1,400 new negative tests had returned since last week, and more than 11,500 tests had been done on P.E.I.
Prince Edward Island had 27 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the most recent on April 28. All have recovered.
Morrison said the cases are not related to either the approval process for seasonal residents or the Atlantic bubble.
No changes to Atlantic bubble for now
Premier Dennis King said contact tracing is underway in all three cases, and he will wait for the results before committing to any changes in P.E.I.'s current level of precautions.
"As of right now, nothing has changed," he said. "The three cases outlined are not connected to the Atlantic bubble," the process that allowed residents of the four Atlantic provinces to visit other places within the region without self-isolating as of Friday.
As for the younger Island man who drove back from Nova Scotia earlier this week, King said there was no question he had the right to do so.
"Any Canadian citizen is able to travel back to their home ... regardless of where they live."
King stressed that all three of the new cases involve Prince Edward Islanders, not residents of other provinces or countries.
"COVID doesn't care about your licence plate or your background or your geography," the premier said.
