P.E.I. to impose new restrictions after omicron variant presence confirmed
CBC
P.E.I. is implementing a suite of new COVID-19 restrictions after the province confirmed its first case of the highly contagious omicron variant.
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said in a briefing Tuesday the case has been associated with an outbreak at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.
Morrison said she expects more omicron cases to be confirmed in the upcoming days.
Schools will remain open for the next three days prior to the Christmas break, but Morrison said the province will be making a recommendation in early January on whether schools will reopen as planned.
Starting Friday, informal gatherings will be limited to 20 people, including those in the same household.
No travel to or from P.E.I. will be allowed for people looking to participate in organized recreational events, including sports, arts and culture-related gatherings, with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Maritime Junior Hockey League being exempt. No tournaments of any sort will be permitted in the province.
Masks will be allowed to be removed at indoor public places when actively eating or drinking, which means Islanders won't be able to take them off when seated at concerts or faith-based gatherings.
Standing receptions where food or drink is served will no longer be permitted, and people must be seated when consuming food or drinks at an eating establishment. Only 20 people can be seated at the same table.
Businesses are asked to take every reasonable step to ensure six feet between patrons of different households.
Dancing and other activities involving close contact will be allowed in cohorts of 50 provided masks are worn at all times.
The set of measures will come into effect at 8 a.m. December 17 and remain in place until early January.
"Adjusting to omicron will take work and effort and it really couldn't happen, doesn't seem, at a worse time as we prepare to gather for the holidays. But I know we'll adjust and we'll get through this," Morrison said.
Morrison also announced new measures at long-term care facilities, and more stringent requirements for travellers entering the province.
Long-term care facility residents won't be able to go out on community visits until they are fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
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