According to an April 16 provincial government news release, Premier Dennis King has also extended the public health emergency originally declared March 16 for an additional 30 days “to ensure [P.E.I.’s] Chief Public Health Officer continues to have the necessary authority to lead the province’s ongoing public health response to the … pandemic.”
The state of emergency “complements the existing authority set out in the public health order and enables a more efficient deployment of resources that will assist the [chief health officer’s] guidance to protect Islanders, particularly through enhanced controls and screening at points of entry.”
Declared under the Emergency Measures Act, it gives officials tighter control over provincial access points such as the Charlottetown airport, the Confederation Bridge, the Wood Islands and Souris ferry terminals, as well as “any port, harbour, wharf, launching, beach, and any part of the provincial shoreline.”
People coming into P.E.I. will be required to disclose the reason for their travel to determine if it is essential.
Where applicable, individuals can be directed to leave.
The state of emergency will be in effect from April 17 at 8 a.m. until April 30 at 11:59 p.m.
According to P.E.I.’s government, the province has 26 positive cases of COVID-19, with another 112 currently undergoing testing.