One new case of COVID-19 has been identified in Prince Edward Island, and is linked to a cluster of cases that appeared over the weekend.
There are now six active cases in P.E.I., with officials announcing five cases over the July 4-5 weekend. Before the recent stretch, the province hadn’t identified a new case since April 28. By May 8, it had no active cases since all 27 of its patients recovered. There are now 33 total patients in P.E.I. throughout the pandemic.
The latest case is a man in his 20s from P.E.I., who is isolated at home with mild symptoms. He originally tested negative, but started to develop symptoms Wednesday, prompting another test that resulted in a COVID-19 diagnosis, said chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison.
“It is a close contact, so not community spread,” said Morrison. “And a close contact could include a partner, roommate or close friend. It’s also why we continue with self-isolation for 14 days as a close contact, even if the initial test is negative.”
The cluster of five cases (originally reported July 4) is linked to a man in his 20s who visited Nova Scotia, but didn’t self-isolate upon his return. During his trip, he came into contact with a man who travelled to the United States, but didn’t self-isolate upon his return; his positive diagnosis was announced Monday by Nova Scotia health officials.
An employee at the Whisperwood Villa seniors home is one of the five cases part of the cluster in P.E.I. Initial testing of all staff and residents came back negative, but Morrison said everyone is currently being retested, a process that is expected to stretch into Friday.
Of the six active cases in P.E.I., five are part of a cluster. The other involves an essential worker who travelled outside of the Atlantic region, but has self-isolated since his return.
