Out-of-province compassionate visitor protocols now include New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland – provinces that were previously exempt under the Atlantic bubble.
P.E.I. withdrew from the Atlantic bubble at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, putting a stop to all non-essential travel to and from the province for the next two weeks.
If travelling from outside of the region for compassionate reasons such as the end of life of a loved one, formal permission needs to be provided by the administration of the facility where the family member is being cared for and by P.E.I.’s Department of Public Safety.
The traveller must first request a visitation approval letter to the facility where the loved one is located (letters will be provided by the facility). If approved, then the traveller must apply to public safety for pre-travel approval.
After obtaining the pre-travel approval, the traveller must arrange to be tested three times at a COVID testing clinic in P.E.I. on days 0-2, 4-7 and 10-12 after arrival.
The traveller will be allowed to visit their family member after the first negative test result.
The visitor will be required to self-isolate for the first 14 days they are on the Island but may visit with the patient or resident during a specified time frame. The visitor will be required to wear full personal protection equipment (gown, gloves and a mask) for the duration of the visit.
Dr. Heather Morrision, chief public health officer, also noted during a briefing Monday that long-term care workers who have been to other Atlantic provinces will not be allowed to work-isolate on P.E.I. and will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
