What you need to know about P.E.I.'s first set of ease-back measures

Thursday marks what the province is calling Step 1 in P.E.I.'s plan to dial back public health measures and — as it has said before —  learn to live with COVID-19. 

"This is not a declaration that COVID is over, or that COVID will disappear, or that we are standing here and saying mission accomplished," said Premier Dennis King in a briefing on Feb. 8. "COVID is with us, and will be with us."

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said this new plan comes with "hope and optimism." 

"It's to share the planning for transitioning from pandemic to recovery, including measures for gatherings, business and travel," she said. "The plan is not about signalling victory or the end of COVID-19 but it's hopeful that we may be ready to move on."

In the first step of the plan, the biggest change is coming for people who travel to and from P.E.I. 

Fully-vaccinated travellers will no longer have to make a plan for their first four days in the province. Now, fully-vaccinated travellers and children under 12 travelling with fully-vaccinated family members don't have to isolate, but do have to test upon arrival, and on days two and four with supplied antigen tests. 

No luck for unvaccinated travellers though — the eight-day isolation period remains, along with testing. 

Starting Thursday, personal gatherings of up to 20 people are permitted. That's up from a household plus 10 people, indoors and outdoors. 

Previously, organized gatherings — like worship services, concerts and spectators at sport events —  could only include 50 people.

Now, venues can operate at 50 per cent capacity with as much physical distancing as possible. The P.E.I. Vax Pass requirement is still in effect for applicable events.  

Wedding and funeral receptions are also permitted as of Thursday, for up to 50 people. 

Teams can now play full games against one another. As of Thursday, organized sports can resume with a maximum of 50 participants, including games and interprovincial competitions. The same rules go for arts and culture performers, dance classes and other recreational activities. Fitness classes can operate at 50 per cent capacity and organizers need to make use of the space to allow for as much distancing as possible.

People in workplaces are to continue masking, promoting distancing and work from home where needed. 

Restaurants must continue to operate at 50 per cent capacity, but can increase table sizes to seat up to 20 people.