Moving Forward, a five-step provincial re-opening plan for summer/fall 2021, represents a stepwise approach to easing travel and public health measures.
Public health and travel measures will remain in place until 80% of eligible Island residents are fully immunized and herd protection is achieved and the threat posed by the virus decreases. As more Island residents are fully immunized, we will transition from the current public health state of emergency to easing restrictions, and finally to living with COVID-19 sustainably over the long-term.
Decisions about moving between steps will be guided by monitoring and surveillance criteria, including achieving PEI vaccine targets, and a low level of disease and controlled transmission in PEI, Atlantic region and Canada, as well as by balancing societal disruption with transmission risk. The availability of testing, public health capacity and health care system capacity remain essential throughout the steps.
T
his plan is possible due to the dedication and hard work of Island residents, businesses, and organizations in following public health guidance.
The following steps outline initial projections of PEI public health measures and travel measures for summer and fall 2021. The plan is subject to change as new evidence becomes available. Estimated timelines and measures will be updated as required.
May 2021 Projections: Moving Forward
Moving Forward Step 1
Learn more about Step 1 (Confirmed coming into effect June 6, 2021)
- Personal gatherings will increase to up to 20 people indoors and outdoors.
- Weddings and funerals will be permitted with a maximum of 150 people, in cohorts of 50, hosted by a recognized business or organization.
- Special occasion events (ex: backyard weddings, anniversary parties) hosted by individuals are permitted with up to 50 people with a reviewed operational plan.
- Restaurants may have a table size of up to 20; no restricted closing time for in-person consumption of food and beverage.
Moving Forward Step 2
Learn more about Step 2 (Estimated timeline – June 27, 2021)
- Travel within Atlantic Canada is permitted to PEI for permanent residents of Atlantic Canada with no travel streams or pre-travel approval; no isolation for fully or partially vaccinated travelers with testing; shortened isolation and testing for unvaccinated travelers. Fully or partially vaccinated PEI residents who travel within Atlantic Canada will not have to self-isolate when they return home, with testing.
- Domestic travel outside Atlantic Canada is permitted under travel streams with pre-travel approval; shortened isolation and testing for all travelers.
Moving Forward Step 3
Learn more about Step 3 (Estimated timeline – July 18, 2021)
- Non-medical mask requirements will ease.
- Organized gatherings hosted by a business or organization are permitted with cohorts of up to 200 people outdoors or 100 people indoors.
- Multiple gatherings hosted by a business or organization are permitted with an approved operational plan.
- Weddings and funerals may host up to 200 people (following cohort limits).
- Sport and Recreation activities that require close contact (ex: sports, performance, etc.) are limited to a single cohort of 100 per day.
Moving Forward Step 4
Learn more about Step 4 (Estimated timeline – August 8, 2021)
- Domestic travel outside Atlantic Canada is permitted with pre-travel approval under existing travel streams; no isolation for fully vaccinated travelers (e.g. family connections, seasonal residents, work); shortened isolation and testing for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers. Island residents who are fully vaccinated can travel within Canada and not have to self-isolate when they return home, with testing.
Moving Forward Step 5
Learn more about Step 5 (Estimated timeline – September 12, 2021)
- Physical distancing measures eased.
- Non-medical mask requirements further eased.
- Personal gathering no limits.
- Organized gathering no limits.
- Business and organization no restrictions.
- Full-time classroom learning in K-12, with the possibility of targeted cohorting based on vaccination.
- Full-time classroom learning in post-secondary, possibly based on vaccination, with online learning options.
- Long term care will have unrestricted visitation if vaccination threshold is maintained.
- Continue to consider travel risks carefully.
- Domestic travel within Canada no pre-travel approval required.
- Some isolation and testing measures recommended for unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated travelers.
- International travel dependent on federal measures.
- Testing at points of entry and border screening eliminated.
Frequently asked Questions
What to know more about travel regulations? When gathering limits will increase? Regulations for education and long term care? The answers to these and more can be found on the Moving Forward frequently asked questions page.