PEI reports new case of COVID-19 that appears unrelated to previous cluster

Prince Edward Island is reporting a new case of COVID-19.

In a brief statement, Dr. Heather Morrison said the Queens County woman is self-isolating at home and contact tracing is underway.

Morrison said the new case is not believed to be linked to a recent COVID-19 cluster in P.E.I. or to a Charlottetown seniors’ residence where a worker had tested positive.

On July 4, the P.E.I. government had announced three confirmed COVID-19 cases, including a woman in her 20s who worked at Whisperwood Villa. They were the first cases in the province since late April.

The woman was believed to have been in contact with a man in his 20s who tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to the island from Nova Scotia.

Two other P.E.I. residents later tested positive for COVID-19 after coming into contact with that same man, public health officials said.

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On Friday, Morrison said 129 residents and 140 staff members of Whisperwood Villa, as well as anyone who visited the facility on June 30, had completed two rounds of testing for COVID-19, and all the tests came back negative.

Morrison is expected to provide more information about the new COVID-19 case later Sunday or Monday morning.

P.E.I. has now reported 34 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, 27 of which are considered resolved.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2020.