Chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison has confirmed another case of COVID-19 in P.E.I. after a health-care worker at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital tested positive Sunday evening.
Morrison provided the update at a briefing on the coronavirus (COVID-19) on Monday. The new case follows a positive case announced Sunday involving a woman in her 80s.
With the latest positive results, P.E.I. has eight active COVID-19 cases for a total of 35 since the pandemic began. All eight active cases are doing well and self-isolating at home, said Morrison.
“We have been fortunate to date to not have any hospitalizations or deaths related to COVID-19,” she said.
As she provided more details about the two cases, Morrison said they don’t appear to be connected to a recent cluster, seasonal residents or the Atlantic bubble.
Morrison said the woman in her 80s lives alone and went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) by ambulance on July 4. The woman was at the hospital for several hours and underwent some diagnostic testing. She was not showing symptoms of COVID-19 and so she wasn’t tested.
The woman was never in the waiting room and when she was discharged, family members took her home, Morrison said.
“She has been diligent about keeping her circle of contacts small, physical distancing and wearing a mask when in public,” said Morrison.
“Now, more than ever, I am pleading with Islanders and visitors to pay attention to public health measures. We need to be more aware of how our behaviour affects ourselves and others.”
- Dr. Heather Morrison
The woman began a 14-day self-isolation after the July 4 hospital visit. On July 11, her symptoms worsened. The woman called 811, and a subsequent COVID-19 test was positive, said Morrison.
Contact tracing has been done, and 47 tests were completed yesterday in connection with the case, said Morrison.
Testing priority was given to nurses and physicians in the QEH emergency department, staff in diagnostic imaging and the Island EMS staff who were in contact with the woman.
Sunday evening, a man in his 40s, who is a health-care worker at the hospital and was tested as part of the contact tracing, came back as positive, Morrison said.
That worker had recently travelled within Canada but outside the Atlantic region. He was tested for COVID-19 upon his return to P.E.I. on July 2. The test was negative, and he was cleared to return to work on July 4, as long as he returned home immediately after his shift.
The practice is called “work-isolation” and is consistent with what’s done in other provinces, said Morrison. She did not confirm what the worker’s role was in the emergency department.
The man worked seven shifts between July 4 and July 11, wore appropriate personal protective equipment and followed all hospital procedures when caring for patients.
All of the close to 100 patients and 125 staff who were in contact with the worker will be tested, said Morrison.
Not everyone who visited the ER will need to be tested, and those who do will be contacted, she said, urging everyone to continue being patient and calm.
Visitor restrictions were put in place at the QEH on Sunday evening.
“No visitors will be allowed to the hospital with the exception of the following nursing units: labour and delivery, pediatrics and intensive care,” said Morrison.
“These three nursing units are limiting visitors to only two people, and visitors must call ahead before going to the hospital. Of course, exceptions may be made for compassionate reasons, so please call ahead.”
Posted by Prince Edward Island Government on Monday, 13 July 2020
Enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) will be used by all QEH staff, said Morrison. Updated guidance about mask use was circulated throughout all Health P.E.I. facilities last week, she said.
It’s not clear how the virus was transmitted in these new cases, said Morrison.
“We will be working very hard over the next 24 to 48 hours on contact tracing and testing in an effort to contain the further spread of COVID-19. The results of contact tracing and testing will be critically important in limiting the scope of this outbreak,” said Morrison, adding she hopes the spread to hospital patients and staff has been limited.
Morrison said it is a worrying situation because the number of contacts makes for a more challenging response.
The health-care worker returned to P.E.I. Thursday, July 2, on WestJet flight 654 from Toronto to Charlottetown. Morrison said anyone who was on that flight and has symptoms of COVID-19 should call 811 or their family doctor to arrange for testing.
Morrison also said her office will be reviewing testing requirements for essential workers travelling outside of the Atlantic bubble.
The situation raises questions about expanding to a Canadian bubble, Morrison said, adding that she thinks it would be premature to loosen restrictions and encourage broader travel.
“Now, more than ever, I am pleading with Islanders and visitors to pay attention to public health measures,” she said.
“We need to be more aware of how our behaviour affects ourselves and others.”
On July 7, Morrison issued a “strong recommendation” to wear masks in indoor public places.
“At some point it may need to become mandatory, but it is our strong recommendation and it is my expectation that would happen,” said Morrison.
Everyone is encouraged to follow routine prevention measures:
- Keep your circle of contacts small
- Physical distance – stay 6 feet apart
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue
- Stay home if you are not feeling well
- If ill with acute respiratory symptoms, call 811 to be assessed
- Limit touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Don’t share items like food, drinking glasses and water bottles
- Frequently clean surfaces like taps, doorknobs and countertops
