Prince Edward Island today joined New Brunswick in linking the emergence of the Omicron variant to the COVID-19 outbreak at St. Francis Xavier University that has spread through the region.
Dr. Heather Morrison, the province’s chief public health officer, said there is at least one confirmed Omicron case on the Island connected to the cluster at the Antigonish, N.S., university. She told a briefing the Island will not be able to avoid the variant’s further spread, adding it feels like the province is “bracing for another hurricane.”
Since mid-November, the province has had 94 positive cases of COVID-19, or about a quarter of its total since the pandemic started. There were three new cases reported on the Island on Tuesday, bringing the total to 36 active cases.
Morrison announced added public health restrictions will come into effect on Friday, including a return to limits of 20 people during indoor, private gatherings.
She said new arrivals on the Island are being required to remain in isolation, usually for about two hours, until receiving the results of their COVID-19 tests. People arriving on the Island are also being strongly advised to partially isolate for four days by avoiding larger gatherings, not attending church and avoiding visits to long-term care facilities and with older residents.
Masks are to be worn in indoor, public locations other than when eating or drinking, or in locations where physical distancing can’t be practised.