easter weekend. the packages include local dairy products and potatoes. they are distributed at locations in summerside and charlottetown. april 13–23 of the province's 25 covid-19 cases have now recovered; no new infections have been found. this leaves only two active infections. april 15 - one new case of covid-19 infection is confirmed, bringing the cumulative total to 26 on the island, with 23 recovered and three active cases. it is a man in his 30s, from queens county, who returned from international travel. april 16 the state of emergency, which was originally declared on march 16, is extended an additional 30 days. minister of economic growth, tourism and culture announced a new $50 million fund to provide loans to businesses dependant on tourism. april 18 - island producers helping islanders initiative is extended and occurs again today, with expanded locations; elmsdale, north wiltshire and cardigan. april 21 - provincial government suggests that public health restrictions can begin to be lifted in phases as early as may 1. april 22 - as of today, 24 of the 26 confirmed covid-19 infections are considered recovered, leaving only 2 active cases on the island. pei's rate of covid-19 cases per 100,000 people is 19. all cases have been related to travel outside the province. april 23 - the province of prince edward island is working on providing funding towards shipping and storage costs of potatoes; this will help mitigate the potato surplus caused by the pandemic. april 28 - renew pei, together phased reopening plan is announced. the first phase will begin friday, may 1. may 2020 may 5 in order to support the agriculture industry on the island during the pandemic, new programs and changes to existing ones are announced. a new loving local campaign is announced, focusing on local businesses, producers and ingredients in an effort to bolster the island economy during the pandemic. it will launch may 22, 2020. may 7 the minister of finance announces a $16.7 million covid-19 incentive to support essential workers. minister of fisheries and communities announces two new programs designed to assist fisheries and aquaculture operators. minister of economic growth, tourism and culture announces the covid-19 workspace adaption assistance fund to help small businesses purchase and install protective measures. may 8 the last remaining covid-19 case is classified as recovered, leaving zero active covid-19 infections in prince edward island. some restrictions are lifted today, including the following: (1) members of the same household may gather indoors with up to 5 other individuals from different households. (2) members of the same household may gather outdoors with up to 10 other individuals from different households. (3) maintaining physical distancing is important during any gatherings with those from outside your household. (4) you may extend your household unit by one or two members, who are important to supporting your household or who you feel may need closer contact and support. may 12 - access pei reopens and begins operating with limited and modified services. may 15 northumberland ferries resumes service between prince edward island and nova scotia for commercial vehicles. after a two-week delay, the island lobster season begins. the delay is caused by the need to quarantine off-island workers. may 22 phase 2 of renew pei, together begins. in an effort to keep person-to-person contact low, island property owners can now apply for domestic burning permits online rather than driving to the nearest forests, fish and wildlife office. june 2020 june 1 phase three of renew pei, together begins, with many health restrictions lifted. seasonal residents may apply to visit prince edward island this summer, which will require a self-isolation plan. june 11 - pei premier dennis king suggests that travel between provinces in the atlantic region might be allowed as early as the start of july. king claims there was an agreement to this end, in a discussion held on june 10 between the premiers. when asked by the cbc, the other premiers expressed caution on an atlantic bubble. june 26 - phase four of renew pei, together begins, with many pandemic restrictions lifted. july 2020 july 3 - pei joins three other atlantic provinces (newfoundland and labrador, new brunswick and nova scotia) in lifting travel restrictions among them, to form the atlantic bubble, allowing residents within the four atlantic provinces to travel without self-isolating for 14 days. july 4 - three new cases of covid-19 infection are announced, the first new cases detected since april. the total active cases on the island is now three. july 5 - two new cases of covid-19 infection are reported, bringing the total of active cases to five. july 9 - one new case of covid-19 infection is reported, bringing the total up to six. july 29 - the canadian premier league announces that it will play a shortened 2020 season known as "the island games" at the university of prince edward island, with all participants required to undergo self-isolation and testing before being allowed to travel and play. august 2020 august 5 - pei government announces that all public schools will go back to full time, in-class learning on september 8th. august 12 - five new covid-19 cases are detected among men from a single flight (air canada flight ac8360), who had all traveled outside the country. this brings the total active cases up to 11. august 18 three new covid-19 cases are reported, all among men traveling from outside the country on the same flight (air canada flight ac626). this brings the total active cases up to 14. cohort and gathering limit numbers are significantly increased by the island government. september 2020 september 3 - two new covid-19 cases are confirmed. as of this date, pei government states that there have been a total of 46 positive cases on the island. so far, all known positive cases have been travel-related. september 4 - one new covid-19 case is confirmed; it is related to international travel. as of this date, pei government states that there have been a total of 47 positive cases on the island. september 7 - four new covid-19 cases are detected. these cases include two young children under the age of 10. all cases are related to international travel. as of this date, pei government states that there have been a total of 51 positive cases on the island. september 8 two new covid-19 cases are detected. both cases are related to international travel. as of this date, pei government states that there have been a total of 53 positive cases on the island. the province opens five new drop-in testing sites where appointments are not needed. the new sites are in charlottetown, summerside, montague, borden and o'leary. these sites will operate in addition to the appointment-needed sites already available. september 9 - two new covid-19 cases are detected, both people traveled internationally. as of this date, pei government states that there have been a total of 55 positive cases on the island. there is currently no evidence of community spread of the virus. september 19 - the new normal plan is released to the public; it aims to gradually lift health restrictions. september 22 - although the atlantic bubble still exists in theory, rotational workers (those who are required to work both inside and outside of atlantic canada on a rotation) no longer have to self-isolate or work-isolate. implementing health restrictions for this population now falls to the workers themselves and their employers. september 23 - one new covid-19 case is detected; it is related to international travel. as of this date, pei government states that there have been a total of 58 positive cases on the island. september 25 - it is announced that the covid-19 clinic at the eastlink centre will be moving to 64 park street. november 2020 november 23 - premier king announces that prince edward island is withdrawing from the atlantic bubble for a two-week period. december 2020 december 3 - the withdrawal from the atlantic bubble is extended until at least december 21, 2020. february 2021 february 26–27 - two new cases are identified with another three new cases the next day, showing evidence of community spread. a full lockdown had been placed after 11 new cases over the weekend. may 2021 may 21 - the 200th confirmed case of covid-19 is confirmed in pei. june 2021 june 16 - wayne easter and premier king announce upgrades to four education and active transportation infrastructure projects june 21 - it is announced that residents of pei do not need to upload information of vaccination for the pei pass. cases remained relatively low throughout the summer and fall months. however, in late-december 2021, prince edward island (p.e.i.) began to experience a surge in covid-19 cases, primarily caused by the sars-cov-2 omicron variant. prince edward island's caseload quickly accelerated, and the province surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases on december 29, 2021, when health officials reported 129 new cases; a record-breaking, single-day increase in cases. this record was broken again on december 30, 2021, when officials reported 169 new cases, and on december 31, 2021, with 175 new cases. january 2022 january 2 - officials report 137 new covid-19 cases since the last update on december 31, 2021. january 3 - officials report 161 new cases. the province's active caseload stands at 995. january 4 - another record-breaking, single-day increase in cases is reported, with 198 new cases. the province surpasses 1,000 active cases, with 1,159 active province-wide. january 5 - premier dennis king and chief medical officer of health dr.heather morrison announce 222 new covid-19 cases; smashing all previous-set records days before. the active caseload is at an all-time high, with officials reporting 1,378 active cases. there are three people in hospital due to covid-19, including one in intensive care. january 14 dr. heather morrison announces that prince edward island is reporting its first two deaths related to covid-19. one individual was between the ages of 60 and 79 years of age, and the other individual was over the age of 79 years. government of pei reports 1,994 active cases, with a total of 3,861 since the start of the pandemic. ongoing outbreaks are reported at provincial correctional centre, atlantic baptist long term care facility, garden home long term care facility and miscouche villa community care facility. there are outbreaks at 14 early learning and child care centres. there is an outbreak among individuals who regularly access shelters and outreach services in charlottetown, with nine cases. january 19 - the province reports its third death due to covid-19, as well as 304 new covid-19 cases. there are now ten people in hospital; a new high for prince edward island. january 29 one new death due to covid-19 is confirmed, bringing the total to four; the individual was 80 or over. there are 2,430 active cases, with a total of 7,545 confirmed cases of covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. the following locations are reporting active outbreaks. long term care facilities: andrews of park west, atlantic baptist, beach, grove home, clinton view lodge, garden home, south shore villa, summerset manor. community care facilities: bevan lodge. early learning and child care centres: 23 centres with cases of covid-19, 7 centres open, 4 centres closed, 12 centres operating at a modified or reduced capacity. hospitals: prince county hospital. other congregate settings: population that accesses shelter and outreach services in charlottetown, prince county correctional centre, provincial addictions treatment facility, provincial correctional centre, st. eleanor's house. february 2022 february 23 - dr. morrison announces a record-breaking 526 new covid-19 cases. premier king announces that prince edward island's vaccine system will be terminated on february 28, 2022. may 2022 may 10 six new deaths due to covid-19 are reported, bringing the total up to 32. three of the individuals were older than 80 and three were older than 60. there is a new outbreak at western hospital in alberton. the following long-term care or community care facilities are listed with ongoing outbreaks: atlantic baptist, beach grove home, gillis lodge, maplewood manor, the mews, miscouche villa, tignish seniors home, wedgewood manor, whisperwood villa may 17 the 33rd island death is reported. the individual was between 60 and 79 years old. there are 1,139 active cases. may 20 - it is announced that children, students