Prince Edward Island will discontinue use of its COVID-19 vaccine passport next week.
Premier Dennis King says proof of vaccination won’t be required to access restaurants, bars, gyms and other venues as of Feb. 28.
The province is also lifting on Feb. 28 the requirement for unvaccinated people arriving on the Island to self-isolate, but they will have to be tested for COVID-19 upon entry and on their second and fourth days in the province.
“These are cautious and positive steps forward using the information we have gathered,” King told reporters Wednesday.
“We’re in a good place. We’re moving forward safely and carefully. We are seeing our indicators on a good trajectory, and that is allowing us to move to the extent that we are,” he said.
Masks will still be required in indoor public spaces, and limits remain on the size of gatherings.
King and chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison both said while the pandemic is not over, the Island is in a good position because of the success of its vaccination campaign. “In particular 82 per cent of those 50 and over have gotten their third shot booster, which is an incredible number,” King said.
Two people in the province are hospitalized as a result of COVID-19 and another two tested positive after being admitted for other reasons. As of Wednesday, the province had 2,316 active cases of the virus.
The PEI Vax Pass program was implemented in early October during the peak of the Delta-driven wave of COVID-19 in Canada.
“It was a time-limited measure that provided an extra layer of protection, allowing more people to gather safely while reducing the risk of outbreaks and associated hospitalizations,” Morrison said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2022.
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