“The intention is to extend that isolation part of the order, but it will be the last time we do it because we will adjust the messaging about the importance of staying home when you feel sick,” he said. Morrison said the province will continue to monitor infection rates, but as they are currently declining in PEI, the approach going forward will be to emphasize staying home if you are sick to reduce transmission of all diseases. “Whether it’s the flu or COVID or other types of cold viruses, a lot of the symptoms are the same,” he said. “Just because you might not be COVID-positive, it’s important not to go out and sit with vulnerable people and cough and sneeze everywhere.” Islanders with COVID-19 must self-isolate for five days from the onset of symptoms or from the date of their positive test for COVID-19. Those who are immunocompromised should do it for 10 days. Morrison said the General Office of Public Health will continue to encourage Islanders to stay up-to-date with booster and flu shots.
Vaccination rates are low in young children
Vaccines against COVID-19 are available for children under the age of five since July. However, according to the province’s vaccination data, as of Oct. 9, less than 10 per cent of children in that age group had had a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Morrison said the low vaccination rate among young children was not a cause for concern. Previous infections, vaccine availability, and timing may play a role. “If it had been available perhaps much earlier in the pandemic, there might have been a different uptake,” he said. “But we also know that there are some in that age group who have had COVID-19 in recent months, so there may be some delay even in their ability to get vaccinated until a few months after they’ve had COVID-19.”
