Prince Edward Island is hoping to phase out most COVID-19 restrictions over the next couple of months.
That was the anticipated timeline given as part of a three-step plan unveiled during a news conference Tuesday.
Premier Dennis King said the plan was presented to members of his cabinet earlier in the day and approved.
“This is not a declaration that COVID is over or that COVID will disappear or that we are standing here and saying ‘mission accomplished.’ COVID is with us and it will be with us,” King said during the news conference.
Step 1 will begin next Thursday with a loosening of some existing public health measures.
Personal gatherings will be allowed to have up to 20 people, up from the current household bubble plus steady 10 contacts.
Organized gatherings will be permitted up to 50 per cent capacity, including worship services, concerts, and spectators at sporting events.
Restaurants, fitness facilities, retail, and other venues can also operate at 50 per cent capacity.
Fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to isolate for four days, but they will still be tested for COVID-19.
Restrictions will be loosened even further under Step 2, which is expected to begin on March 17.
Personal gatherings may include up to 20 people indoors and up to 50 people outdoors.
Organized gatherings may include up to 75 per cent capacity in the venue, while restaurants, fitness facilities, retail, and other venues may also operate at 75 per cent capacity.
Step 3 is slated for April 7, when it is anticipated that mandatory masks, gathering limits, and the province’s vaccination passport program will come to an end.
King said while most measures will be phased out at that time, others will continue.
“There are likely to be measures in some of our high-risk settings like hospitals and long-term care facilities that will extend beyond April 7th and are likely to become part of our everyday operations into the future,” he said.
Dr. Heather Morrison, the province’s chief public health officer, said the transition plan is “cautious and balanced,” adding that the easing of measures will continue to be guided by local, national and international evidence.
Officials said the proposed timeline will be adjusted if needed in response to the evolving COVID-19 situation.
You can find more details about the three-step plan by clicking here.
