CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — P.E.I.’s chief health officer emphasized increased testing for COVID-19 as a key strategy that will allow the province to begin to ease public health restrictions in the weeks ahead.
During a media briefing Thursday afternoon, Morrison said testing, including of asymptomatic populations, will be a prerequisite for the gradual relaxation of physical distancing measures. The first phase of the relaxations is planned for May 1.
"We're looking closely at how to increase our testing here on Prince Edward Island. It will be key, along with strong screening measures at our points of entry that we have this in place before we start easing back other restrictions," Morrison said.
The expansion of population testing has been emphasized by several smaller Canadian provinces. Other premiers have expressed eagerness to relax physical distancing measures. On Monday, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said plans were in place to test 2,000 people per day. Saskatchewan health authorities, who have restricted testing to individuals with symptoms, have also announced plans to expand testing criteria. Moe announced detailed plans for easing restrictions on Thursday.
On P.E.I., Morrison said testing will increase for long-haul truck drivers returning from off-Island, whether they exhibit COVID-19 symptoms or not. Morrison also testing will focus on staff who work at more than one long-term care facility, as well as healthcare workers who work in more than one province. Remaining residents returning from travel will also be considered, whether symptomatic or not.
Morrison said the new testing criteria will be in effect as of end-of-day Thursday.
Those who are currently being tested on P.E.I. include anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever, sore throat, fatigue), hospitalized patients with respiratory symptoms, health care workers with symptoms, long-term care residents upon admission (symptomatic or not), temporary foreign workers and contacts of known positive cases of the virus. These contacts include anyone who has had contact with a positive individual up to 48 hours before they developed symptoms.
Morrison said provincial labs processing COVID-19 tests have also received a loan of two devices from the Atlantic Veterinary College. These two devices included a King Fisher specimen extractor, manufactured by Thermofisher, and a Bio-Rad Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine.
These devices will mean P.E.I. has the capacity to produce results for 2,000 COVID-19 tests per week, Morrison said.
Morrison said there were no new cases of the coronavirus on P.E.I. on Thursday. The last new case was announced April 15. Twenty-four of the 26 cases in P.E.I. have recovered.
Morrison also said the easing of public health restrictions would be gradual and said there will be consultations with business and industry.
Morrison was asked whether P.E.I. might see a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"In many ways, we have not had a first wave," Morrison said.
“The importance as we go forward – with easing up on public health measures - is to make sure we maintain enough capacity in our health system to respond to any potential surge of cases. That would include a second wave."
