P.E.I. becomes first province in Canada to order all cannabis and liquor stores to close

In a move that may not seem too shocking a few days from now, Prince Edward Island has become the first Canadian province to order the closure of all non-essential businesses including cannabis and liquor stores in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government of P.E.I. announced the decision earlier today along with chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morris, who specified that all cannabis and liquor stores in the province will have to close by 2 p.m. tomorrow.

Woah, cannabis & liquor stories in PEI considered NOT essential, closing at 2pm tomorrow. Big news on the East Coast.
— Dr. Brenton Dickieson (@BrentonDana) March 18, 2020

Other non-essential services that will have to shutter in the wake of the announcement include personal beauty care establishments, tattoo and piercing shops, malls, gyms and pools.

Closing - hairdressers, nail salons, malls, fitness and gym facilities - liquor and cannabis stores (effective tomorrow at 2:00 pm)
— Government of PEI (@InfoPEI) March 18, 2020

Some are expressing concerns over whether liquor stores will now become dangerously crowded as people rush to stock up ahead of the closures, but Dr. Morris says security guards will be present outside stores in order to limit the amount of people that enter and to ensure shoppers are two metres apart in lineups.

The province only has one confirmed case of COVID-19 at this time, but 183 tests have been sent directly to the national lab in Winnipeg for confirmation.