The Prince Edward Island government announced its 4-phase plan to re-open the economy and ease public health restrictions. The phased approached is expected to be implemented as follow:
- Phase one is scheduled to start on May 1, 2020. This phase includes making certain non-urgent health care services available and permitting gatherings and non-contact outdoor recreational activities of up to 5 individuals from different households. Certain outdoor and construction services will be allowed. Social distancing shall be required at any gatherings or businesses which operate.
- Phase two is scheduled to start on May 22, 2020. It will allow small indoor gatherings, larger outdoor gatherings and limited recreational activities (5 people indoor and 10 people outdoor). Additional businesses, including retail businesses, select indoor services, and unlicensed and licensed child care providers will be permitted to open.
- Phase three is scheduled to start on June 12, 2020. It contemplates slightly larger indoor and outdoor gatherings (15 people indoor and 20 people outdoor) and the opening of organized recreational activities and facilities. Further, personal services, indoor dining, and accommodations businesses are also expected to re-open during this phase.
- Phase four is yet to be fully determined, but will include further relaxation of the public health measures.
Each phase may start at an earlier or later date depending on the progress or egress of COVID-19 within the province. It is possible that the phases will be delayed, halted or reversed.
On May 7, 2020, the Prince Edward Island announced the COVID-19 Workspace Adaption Assistance Fund, which will assist small businesses in adapting their facilities to safeguard employees and customers. The program is retroactive to March 16, 2020 and will provide up to $2,000 to eligible applicants.
On May 8, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government announced the following easing of COVID-19 restrictions effective May 8, 2020:
- members of the same household may gather indoors with up to 5 other individuals from different households;
- members of the same household may gather outdoors with up to 10 other individuals from different households; and
- household units may be extended by one or two members who are important to supporting the household.
Physical distancing must be maintained at any gatherings involving individuals from different households.
On May 15, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government confirmed that phase 2 of its reopening plan will commence on May 22, 2020, and released its plan for expanded child care.
On May 20, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government announced that Phase 2 of the government’s Renew PE plan will start on May 22, 2020 with, among other things, further easing of restrictions and the permitted reopening of certain retail, indoor, childcare and non-urgent healthcare businesses and services.
On May 22, 2020, Phase 2 of Renew PE, Together plan commenced, resulting in the re-opening of certain businesses and services as stated on May 20.
On May 25, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government established the Council for Recovery and Growth to develop a provincial plan for COVID-19 recovery and growth.
On May 28, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government will proceed to Phase 3 of the Renew PEI plan as of June 1, 2020, with the additional relaxation of certain restrictions on child care, gatherings, long term care visitations, indoor dining in restaurants and recreational activities.
Prince Edward Island will move to further relax restrictions within the province as phase 3 begins on June 1. Gyms, libraries, personal services, day camps, campgrounds, and other public facilities will be permitted to reopen. Visitation is also being permitted for compassionate and palliative care. Seasonal residents may apply to visit Prince Edward Island this summer, which will require a self-isolation plan.
Phase 3 highlights include:
- Gatherings – no more than 15 people indoor and 20 people outdoor may gather while maintaining physical distancing with individuals who are not part of one’s household.
- Long Term Care Visitation – Visits will be permitted in outdoor areas at Long Term Care facilities with a maximum of two designated visitors per resident.
- Restaurants – Indoor dining will be permitted with a maximum seating capacity of 50 patrons. There is no set seating capacity for outdoor dining areas.
- Physical distancing must be maintained between patrons at different tables as well as for patrons at the bar or in waiting areas and applies to both indoor and outdoor seating areas.
- Recreational Activities – adhering to current gathering numbers (maximum of 15 indoor and 20 outdoor), organized recreational activities and team sports may operate. Modifications may be necessary based on the level of physical contact. Full contact sports like wresting or rugby would require extensive modification/practice options at this time.
Updated public health guidelines will come into effect June 1 to allow for the expansion of child care, as follows:
- the cap of 20 people per licensed child care centre will be removed;
- the maximum number permitted in a pre-school group will increase from 5 to 8, and the number of children in a school-aged group will increase from 5 to 15; and
- infants can return to centres.
The easing of restrictions in Phase 3 will also mean that more services can be offered in schools, for example:
- in-person appointments and small group sessions will be scheduled for students to meet with their classroom and resource teachers to receive more support;
- the respite program will expand to 56 schools on June 1 to offer individualized support to students who have EAs or Youth Service Workers;
- one-to-one counseling will be offered in schools and staff will meet with students who have significant social-emotional needs; and
- transition sessions will be offered for Kindergarten students and those who are moving on to a new school.
On June 1, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government confirmed that Phase 3 of the Renew PEI, Together plan commenced, with the reopening of provincial parks (day use) and libraries, along with the extension of the hours of operation of liquor stores.
On June 10, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government reopened mental health and addictions clinics for walk-in services.
On June 12, 2020, the Prince Edward Island Chief Health Officer announced that Phase 4 of Renew PEI Together plan will start on June 26, 2020.
On June 18, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government presented its 2020-21 budget, which includes many COVID-19 financial recovery initiatives, including a small business tax reduction.
On June 23, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government confirmed Phase 4 of Renew PE Together plan will commence on June 26, 2020. This will include the following:
- organized gatherings of up to 50 people (e.g. worship services, weddings, funerals, organized sports, day camps);
- personal gatherings of no more than 15 people indoors and 20 people outdoors;
- long-term care visitation of up to 2 individuals per resident at one time;
- the reopening of additional businesses providing personal services (e.g. facials, piercings, etc.);
- childcare centres can welcome additional children, up to a specified maximum;
- all non-urgent health care services will resume.
On June 24, 2020, the Atlantic provinces announced they will form a form travel bubble. Interprovincial travel without the requirement to self-isolate will be permitted in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, for residents of Atlantic Canada as of July 3. Visitors from other Canadian provinces and territories must adhere to the local entry requirements in place in each of the four jurisdictions. Other Canadian visitors to the Maritime provinces that have self-isolated for 14 days may then travel within the Maritime region. The premiers noted that the decision to ease travel restrictions in the region was guided by the chief medical officers of health in each province and will continue to be closely monitored. All public health directives present in each province must be adhered to, including not traveling if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 and practising physical distancing and good hand hygiene. Each province will choose their own processes to track and monitor travelers.
On June 30, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government announced that on July 8, 2020, provincial park campgrounds will reopen and permit stays of two nights or more.
On July 2, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government published its Welcome Back to School plan in support of the return to school in September 2020.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. on July 3, 2020, the province joins Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador in the Atlantic travel bubble (for more see NB reopening plan section).
On July 10, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government announced that a new COVID-19 testing site for essential workers will open in Borden on July 13, 2020.
On July 14, 2020, the Prince Edward Island Chief Public Health Officer strongly recommended that residents and visitors to the province wear a face mask or covering in indoor spaces.
On July 16, 2020, the Prince Edward Island government announced that on July 20, 2020, provincial public libraries will reopen with certain service reductions and safety measures in place.
