CPHO – COVID-19 UPDATE

There are a few updates from the CPHO.

 

Guidance for Sport and Recreation:

https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-and-wellness/covid-19-guidance-for-sport-and-recreation-settings

Activities that involve interactions within 6 ft – These are activities where participants get into each other’s space and it isn’t possible to physically distance. Examples include hockey, basketball, soccer, some card/board games, some dance groups, some theatre groups, etc.  Individuals and team sports can have competitions so long as the total number of participants interacting is less than 50 per day

Activities that involve no interactions – These are activities where you can do the entire activity and are not required to interact with other participants within 6 ft. These activities must follow 50% capacity limits (of standard operating capacity) and organizers are required to maximize use of space to allow for as much distancing as possible.

Venues can allow up to 50% of their capacity for spectators to watch the event. This means if you have space for 300 spectators, 150 are allowed to enter the facility to watch the event.

Masking is still required.

 

PEI Vax Pass Program

As of February 28, 2022, PEI will no longer require proof of vaccination to enter the province or access business, organizations and events under the PEI Vax Pass Program.

 

Close Contacts – New Guidance

https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-and-wellness/covid-19-close-contacts

If you are contacted and advised you are a close contact, you are required to follow the measures outlined below.

During the infectious period* of someone with COVID-19, a close contact is someone:

• they had face to face interaction with indoors or outdoors for at least 15 minutes, including 15 minutes in total over a 24 hour period, or
• they were within 2 meters (6 feet) indoors for at least 15 minutes, including 15 minutes in total over a 24 hour period, or
• they were hugging, kissing, coughing or sneezing near, or
• who provided care to them at home.

If the person who tested positive wore an appropriate well-fitting mask properly for the duration of the interaction, this wouldn’t be considered a close contact situation. An appropriate mask could be a three layer non-medical mask (that includes a filter layer), a medical mask, or a respirator.

 

New Categories of Close Contacts

There will be two types of close contacts:

• Household close contacts
• Non-household close contacts

A non-household contact is an individual who meets the definition of close contacts (face to face, unmasked contact with a positive case for at least 15 minutes) and may include classmates, bus mates, team mates, work colleagues, or those you had lunch with.   Non-household close contacts, regardless of vaccination status, are required to follow enhanced measures for 96 hours after their last exposure to a positive case.

Measures for non-household close contacts

• Not required to isolate
• For 4 days, follow enhanced measures:
  • Wear a properly fitted, three-layer cloth mask or medical mask outside your home (and as much as possible during physical/recreational activities)
  • Work from home as much as possible.
  • When at work, practice physical distancing including while eating or drinking.
  • Be tested on day 4 at a testing clinic.
• For 10 days since your last contact with the positive case,
  • Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 10 days
  • If symptoms develop, immediately isolate and get tested.
  • Do not visit high-risk settings or individuals (settings such as long-term care, community care and other congregate living facilities, childcare facilities, and individuals who may be at risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes). This 10 day restriction does NOT apply to:
    • staff who wear well-fitting masks and following appropriate COVID-19 protocols, and
    • children attending childcare facilities.
• Household members  (who are not identified as close contacts) are not required to take any additional steps, they should continue to follow standard public health measures including monitoring for symptoms and getting tested at a testing clinic if symptoms develop.