CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Premier Dennis King and chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison offered the first details Tuesday on an easing of the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) public health restrictions over the coming months.
During a media briefing, both cautioned these easing measures would be very limited and said most physical distancing measures would be maintained over the first two weeks in May. But some measures could be eased as early as May 1.
Specifically, during the first two weeks of May, Morrison said some elective surgeries could resume and said public health and provincial leaders are discussing allowing “certain outdoor activities", which could include recreational angling.
A second phase of ease-back would begin in mid-May and may involve re-opening some businesses.
"The next phase being some of those small businesses and what ones can maintain physical distancing," Morrison said.
Morrison said risk assessments will be carried out to determine what activities can be allowed while minimizing the possibility of community transmission of the coronavirus. She said some consideration is being given to what role cloth masks could play in minimizing public transmission.
"This is going to be rough. It is going to be bumpy and there's no perfect way to do this," Morrison said.
"If we don't do this well, then the possibility of having increased measures lifted by the summer will not happen."
King said re-opening schools is still unlikely to occur in early May, as this would involve large gatherings.
"We would pick some of the low hanging things now while adhering to the social distancing, the physical distancing,” King said.
"And then we look then to the middle of May again to say if we've made some strides here."
Morrison said the limited easing of these measures would be deemed successful if the spread of the virus has been contained and transmission has been controlled.
“We have to make sure that we don't see, in the next couple of weeks, widespread community transmission. We do not want to see any outbreaks at long-term care facilities,” Morrison said.
Morrison said testing of the population would continue in the weeks ahead, as would screening measures at the Confederation Bridge, the Charlottetown Airport and the Wood Islands and Souris ferry terminals.
She also said consultation is planned with industry, businesses, government departments and municipalities.
King said he does not know what the long-term economic impacts of the coronavirus will be for the Island.
"If we have any type of tourism season this year, it will be pretty local and a lot smaller than what we've been used to," King said.
King also said New Brunswick has put in place similar measures at points of entry into that province.
"I've talked with Premier Higgs in New Brunswick in the last few days just about, certainly not in the initial phases, but later on into the summer, what some type of inter-provincial travel could or should look like,” he said.
King said these were all hopeful signs.
"I would equate it to walking to a small town in Saskatchewan,” he said.
“You see it out there and you keep walking, but you don't seem to be getting any closer. But eventually we will get there."
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