Local News

P.E.I. confirms 704 COVID-19 cases, changes to testing on March 8, 2022

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Not as many individuals might want to get examined for COVID-19 in P.E.I. because the province loosens its pointers to cope with excessive volumes at its clinics.

Throughout a March 8 briefing, chief public well being officer Dr. Heather Morrison defined the brand new testing pointers that imply not everybody might want to get examined when they’re a detailed contact of somebody who’s constructive for COVID-19.

Morrison mentioned in P.E.I. there was a lot better entry to COVID-19 testing than in different provinces and territories.

“Nevertheless, our testing capability is now strained,” she mentioned.

Morrison mentioned there was a rise of greater than 30 per cent within the variety of exams accomplished final week in comparison with the earlier week.

The check positivity fee over the past seven days was 24.5 per cent.

Modifications to the testing guidelines got here after Morrison introduced 704 new constructive circumstances in P.E.I.

That one-day case depend, which was present as of 8 a.m. on March 8, introduced the variety of energetic circumstances in P.E.I. to 4,596.

Over the past seven days, there was a mean of 506 new circumstances per day.

With the testing standards change, Morrison mentioned people who find themselves shut contacts solely must get examined on Day 4 in the event that they work or reside in a high-risk setting.

People who find themselves shut contacts however don’t have signs and who don’t reside or work in high-risk settings want to watch for signs and received’t have to check on Day 4.

Vehicles wait in line at the COVID-19 testing site on Park Street in Charlottetown on March 8. - Dave Stewart/The Guardian
Autos wait in line on the COVID-19 testing website on Park Road in Charlottetown on March 8. – Dave Stewart/The Guardian

 

Morrison mentioned if somebody is a detailed contact of a constructive case and develops signs, they don’t must be examined at a clinic and might assume they’re constructive.

The province received’t be monitoring all circumstances which can be presumed to be constructive, Morrison mentioned, including that the potential for having folks fill out a kind to take action was mentioned.

“I believe at this level within the pandemic we’ve got numerous good surveillance happening, we’re nonetheless doing plenty of testing, so we could not want to try this,” she mentioned.

Morrison mentioned the adjustments to the testing pointers replicate “optimum use” of testing capability.

She mentioned dropping asymptomatic testing for shut contacts does enhance the chance, and the expectation is that some constructive circumstances shall be missed.


Part 2 of the transferring on plan for P.E.I. begins March 17:

  • Private gatherings allowed 20 indoors and 50 outside.
  • Organized occasions allowed as much as 75 per cent capability.
  • Health amenities, retail, museums, casinos and libraries allowed as much as 75 per cent capability.
  • Marriage ceremony, funeral and stand-up receptions allowed as much as 100 folks.
  • Organized sport and recreation actions allowed a most of 100 individuals interacting over the course of a day.
  • Common screening at factors of entry will proceed however make the transition to random testing of individuals coming into P.E.I.

Morrison additionally addressed comparisons between P.E.I.’s latest constructive case counts and people in different provinces or territories.

It’s not correct to match P.E.I.’s case charges straight with different jurisdictions, she mentioned.

“We’ve got a a lot better sense of what’s occurring in P.E.I. with COVID-19.”

Regardless of the adjustments, college students in P.E.I. will proceed to get examined utilizing fast exams thrice every week.

With March break subsequent week, Morrison mentioned college students ought to nonetheless use fast exams on March 13, 18 and 20.

College students ought to have sufficient fast exams for the following three weeks, she mentioned.

Morrison mentioned it will likely be useful if households establish as not needing fast exams due to a latest constructive outcome.

These exams can then be redistributed, she mentioned.

Ryan Ross is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Charlottetown.
[email protected]
Twitter.com/ryanrross



Source link

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button