Excitement, trepidation on P.E.I. as COVID-19 restrictions ease
CBC
Businesses, organizations and Islanders reacted with mixed opinions on Tuesday following news that COVID-19 gathering limits will be lifted on P.E.I. but that the mask mandate will remain a little longer.
The news came at a public health briefing as part of Step 3 in the province's Moving On plan.
"We're certainly pleased to hear that those restrictions are being lifted. I think that's what we've really been hoping to work towards all along," said Corryn Clemence, the CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of PEI.
"It seems like it's been a long time since we've waited to hear those words. So it's an exciting day for our industry."
It's been a tough couple of years for tourism operators on Prince Edward Island, she said, but there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
"I think you'll see a lot of happy operators on the Island today."
The CEO of the Greater Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce agreed.
"I think everybody's happy to see that come and move back to some form of normalcy," said Robert Godfrey.
"It's going to allow restaurants, gyms, retail all those places to go to 100 per cent. One-hundred-per-cent capacity means more people in your place of business, which will probably result in higher profit."
At Alambé café in Charlottetown, the owner's mouth was still covered by a mask but you could see his eyes smiling as he reacted to news that gathering limits have come to an end.
It's "just, you know, wonderful," said Hiap Pham.
"Together with the weather ... with all those [restrictions] stopped. People will go out more, and we're going to have more customers for sure."
But some people aren't sure now is the time for fewer rules. In the last week, the province has identified an average of 367 COVID-19 cases per day.
"If the cases are still going up, lives are still at risk. I have a mother who works in health care and she sees it all day," said Cameren Laville, a student at UPEI.
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