<noinclude> The COVID-19 pandemic in Prince Edward Island is part of an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Up until January 14, 2022, Prince Edward Island was the only province/territory that did not have any deaths due to COVID-19.
On March 14, 2020, the first confirmed case in Prince Edward Island was announced, a woman in her 50s who had returned from a trip on a cruise ship on March 7.
An initial small surge in cases at the start of 2020 eventually petered out to zero active cases by May 2020. The province began to open up that summer, resulting in another small uptick in active cases, with no deaths. By the close of 2020, PEI withdrew from the Atlantic Bubble and eased some restrictions, resulting in a slow but steady rise in active cases. By May 2021, the island recorded its 200th confirmed case of infection. In December 2021, PEI was breaking its own daily records of confirmed infections, with active cases surpassing the 1000 mark by early January 2022. No Islanders had yet lost their lives to the pandemic and PEI remained the only Canadian province with no known COVID-19 fatalities. However, on January 14, 2022, the first deaths related to COVID-19 in Prince Edward Island were reported, with fatalities rising sharply throughout the year. Despite the rising fatality rate, many health restrictions were abandoned in favor of bolstering the local economy. By the start of the 2022 tourist season, masking, social distancing, testing mandates and vaccine passports were eliminated.
As of October 4, 2022, Prince Edward Island has reported 52,047 confirmed cases of the virus and 62 deaths.
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Timeline: Infections, Deaths & Government Response February 2020 February 28 - The first COVID-19 related update is issued by the PEI government. There are no known cases on the island, but officials encourage individuals returning from Hubei Province, China to voluntarily self-isolate for 14 days. All other international travelers are encouraged to monitor themselves closely.
March 2020 March 10 - In response to the emerging COVID-19 threat, the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning announces that for the month of March, all school-planned travel abroad has been cancelled. March 11 - The province launches a toll-free COVID-19 information line. Islanders are encouraged to leave a message with their questions and concerns, which will be answered with a call back within 24 hours by a staff member from the Chief Public Health Office. March 13 Dr. Heather Morrison issues new travel recommendations; all international travelers are supposed to isolate for 14 days, without regard to point of origin, symptoms or possible contact with the infected. Islanders are encouraged to cancel all trips abroad and to avoid large gatherings. Premier Dennis King issues a statement regarding his recent travel to the USA; he will be taking Dr. Heather Morrisons recommendations to heart and self isolating for 14 days. He does not believe that either he or his family were exposed to COVID during the trip. His statement also confirms that he will be cancelling any previously planned international trips. March 14 - The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Prince Edward Island is announced. The index case is a resident of Queens County; a woman in her 50s who returned from a trip on a cruise ship on March 7. The person had travelled on WestJet Flight 3440 from Toronto to Moncton on March 7. March 15 Three special cabinet committees are established as part of government's response efforts to address the economic impacts of COVID-19 in the province. The three committees that are announced: (1) Economy and Business Supports, (2) Labour and Social Supports, and (3) Government Operations. New preventative measures are announced by Dr. Heather Morrison. As of today, all public and private long-term care and community care facilities will be restricting visitors. Anyone, including children, who have travelled outside the country are asked to avoid child care facilities. Health PEI prepares to shift to providing essential services only. March 16 Premier Dennis King announces that the provincial cabinet has declared a state of public health emergency under the Public Health Act. The emergency declaration gives special powers to the Chief Public Health Officer of the province, who will be able to issue orders about self isolation, closures and gatherings. The Premier announces that Cabinet has established a $25 million contingency fund in response to the economic upheaval. All library programs and events Island-wide are cancelled. March 17 All public licensed child care centres are closed. All public schools are closed for two weeks following March Break (March 23 to April 3). Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park at Brookvale closes. All provincially run visitor information centres also close today. The following gathering places close: bars, in-room dining at restaurants (pick-up, delivery and drive-thru remain options for the businesses), theatres (including movie theatres), and indoor play areas. All dental clinics and optometry appointments are cancelled. It is recommended that funerals be cancelled or rescheduled. Wakes at funeral homes will have gathering limits. Investments to support the Island's most vulnerable are announced, including: $250,000 to United Way Prince Edward Island to support the Atlantic Compassion Fund; $100,000 to the Prince Edward Island Food Bank Association; $100,000 to Salvation Army Prince Edward Island; and $50,000 for community programs and NGOs. PEI Housing Corporation suspends all evictions for six weeks. Minister of Economic Growth and Tourism announces: Emergency Income Relief for the self-employed; and support for small businesses. All Access PEI offices, the Provincial Administration Building in Charlottetown and Island Waste Management Corporation are closed to the public. March 18 The Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) temporarily suspends local news broadcasts, including Prince Edward Island's CBC News: Compass. The aim is to consolidate all COVID-19 reporting and protect staff. There is an outcry across the country in protest of this move, including a statement from Premier Dennis King, expressing his disappointment. More financial support for Islanders is announced by the provincial government, including: loan deferrals, small business supports and extra financial supports for people whose hours have been significantly cut. During a news conference, Dr. Heather Morrison announces the immediate closing of all personal beauty care providers, including barbers, hairdressers, and nail and tattoo salons. This decision is made with the input of the Hairdressers Association. It is also announced that at 2 pm the following day (March 19), all 17 liquor stores and all cannabis stores throughout Prince Edward Island will close. This causes a buying spree of both liquor and cannabis. March 19 PEI closes its liquor and cannabis stores. Prince Edward Island police agencies announce the suspension of the following services: elective fingerprinting, criminal records checks and vulnerable sector checks. March 20 - The second confirmed case of COVID-19 infection in Prince Edward Island is identified. The person is male and was on Air Canada flight 7564 which travelled from Toronto to Charlottetown on March 11. March 21 - All new arrivals to PEI (international AND inter-provincial) are asked to self-isolate for two weeks. Screening of all travelers begins at the Charlottetown Airport, Confederation Bridge, and the ferry terminal for the Magdalen Islands service from Souris. March 22 - The third confirmed case of COVID-19 infection in Prince Edward Island is identified. The individual is a woman in her 20s from Queen's County who recently returned from international travel. She flew from Spain to Toronto on March 14, then flew to Moncton on March 16 on WestJet flight 3456 and then traveled by car to Prince Edward Island that same day. March 23 - In response to the confirmed cases of COVID-19 found on the Island, Cabinet empowers the Chief Public Health Officer to issue fines to anyone who is not complying with an order to self-isolate. The penalties for not complying include: A fine of $1,000 for a first offence; A fine of $2,000 for a second offence; A fine of $10,000 for a third offence and every offence thereafter. March 24 - In partnership with Sobeys Inc., the province launches a program to get $100 grocery gift cards to Islanders who have been laid off. March 25 - Due to concerns that closing liquor stores could impact people with alcohol withdrawal syndrome, the province re-opens one liquor store in Charlottetown, with the aim of slowly re-opening them all. March 26 - Four new cases of COVID-19 infection are confirmed in Prince Edward Island, bringing the total up to nine. The cases are all men between the ages of 55 and 70, who recently returned from international travel. Two of the men returned from Europe, one from the United States and one from the Caribbean. Two of the men are from Queens County and two are from Prince County. March 27 Two new cases of COVID-19 infection are confirmed in Prince Edward Island, bringing the total up to 11. The cases are two women, one in her 20s and the other in her 50s. Both are from Prince County and the cases are related to international travel. Closure of schools, daycares and non-essential services is extended. Schools and daycares will remain closed until at least May 11. Non-essential government services and non-essential businesses will remain closed indefinitely. March 28 - Established by Health PEI, Charlottetown Cough and Fever Clinic opens. March 30 Established by Health PEI, Summerside Cough and Fever Clinic opens. Seven new cases of COVID-19 infection are confirmed in Prince Edward Island, bringing the total up to 18. Three of the people are women, and four are men, with ages ranging from in their 20s to in their 70s. All cases are related to international travel. It is revealed that as of March 30, the Chief Public Health Office received 56 complaints about people failing to self-isolate upon return from travel outside the province. 26 resulted in a visit from an officer, 12 ended in verbal warnings to self-isolate and nine resulted in a written warning for violating the Public Health Order. Minister of Social Development and Housing announces a $1,000,000 Temporary Rental Assistance Benefit. In addition, the Prince Edward Island Housing Corporation will extend its moratorium on evictions to the end of June. Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture announces a Commercial Lease Rent Deferral Program for small and medium businesses. March 31 - Three new cases of COVID-19 infection are confirmed, bringing the total up to 21. One is a male in his 20s, and the other two are females, one in her 30s and one in her 40s; all new cases are related to international travel.
April 2020 April 1 - PEI government announces more financial support for Islanders, including the COVID-19 Income Support Program. April 2 One new case of COVID-19 infection is confirmed, bringing the total up to 22. The individual is a man in his 50s from the Queens County area; the case is related to international travel. Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy announces the COVID-19 Special Situations Fund. April 8 - Three new case of COVID-19 infection are confirmed, bringing the total up to 25. Two of the cases are linked directly to international travel; a man in his 20s and a woman in her 70s. The other is the first case of inter-provincial infection in PEI; a man in his 50s. Of the 25 known positive cases on PEI, 17 are considered recovered, leaving only 8 active cases at this time. April 9