COVID-19 GN Update - April 3, 2020

Premier’s update:

There are still no confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut.

Today, the total number of people under investigation to date is 314. 216 people are currently under investigation and 98 people are no longer under investigation.

I am very pleased to announce today that the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated are each donating $1 million to community-based food programs for children and Elders during COVID-19.

These funds will provide nutritious meals for Nunavut’s most vulnerable, using communities’ existing expertise and networks during COVID-19-related school closures.

Communities under 1,000 people will receive $40,000, communities over 1,000 people will receive $90,000, and Iqaluit will receive $200,000.

Thank you in advance to our communities for feeding school-aged children and our Elders.

I want to quickly address concerns about inter-territory travel. The simple fact is that we have very strong travel restrictions in place already in Nunavut. We have recommended against all non-essential travel between communities, anyone under investigation for COVID-19 is already under a mandatory isolation order to stay at home, and no one can come into the territory without isolating in the south, or very strict monitoring.

There is no need to restrict travel in the territory at this time, but if and when COVID-19 does some into Nunavut, we will revisit this issue.

As the weekend approaches and the beautiful weather continues, I ask Nunavummiut to please stay strong in your commitment to stay home and keep physical distance.

If you go out, please go as a family only, and make sure you practise social distance.

Please don’t take your family to the grocery store, if you don’t have to.

I know how hard this is for our kids, too. But this weekend, please be mindful of keeping them close to home and not hanging out in groups – it’s just not safe.

As always – remember to wash your hands, cough or sneeze into your elbow, and stay home as much as possible, especially if you feel even the slightest bit sick.

Don’t chance your health or the health of the people around you.

Our actions will determine how we get through this. Stay home. Save lives.

As part of the Government of Nunavut’s (GN) effort to protect Nunavummiut against the risk of COVID-19, GN Departments are implementing the following:

Department of Health Services

The Public Health Emergency has been extended until April 16, 2020.

Only emergency dental services will be provided in all Nunavut communities until further notice.

If you live in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, or Cambridge Bay and are experiencing a severe dental pain or infection, you can contact the dental clinics listed below to report your problem. If your call is not answered, please follow the instructions provided in the message.

• Iqaluit: Regional Dental Coordinator at QGH @ 867-975-8600 ext 6206
• Rankin Inlet Dental Clinic @ 867-645-2776
• Cambridge Bay Dental Clinic @ 867-983-4171

Please do not visit the dental clinic if you have not been given a pre-arranged appointment time. People showing up at these clinics without a pre-arranged appointment time will not be seen.

We ask that you arrive to your appointment on time, as we may be unable to accommodate late arrivals.

For those not living in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet or Cambridge Bay who are experiencing severe dental pain or infection, please call your local health centre.

Isolation Sites

Those in isolation have access to cable, internet, three meals a day, fresh linens and cleaning supplies. Garbage is picked up daily. These costs are covered by the Government of Nunavut.

The GN will pay for diapers, baby formula and feminine products. Guests are responsible to order these products through the provided delivery services, but they will not be charged for the items.

The welcome package has been updated to include information on grocery orders and take out. Both can be delivered to the hotel. These deliveries and related costs are not covered by the GN.

Volumes

As of April 2 (a.m.) there are 385 travel requests, 288 of which are critical worker requests.

Department of Education Services

On Tuesday, April 7, school staff will be able to access schools on a voluntary basis should they wish to prepare learning packages for students.

The department has a working group developing guidelines for teachers identifying grade-specific areas of focus for learning packages. Packages may look different for each student.

School access is for operational purposes only and not for recreation or other non-education-related activities.

The department has also provided all schools with health and safety protocols related to COVID-19, including respiratory etiquette, hand washing, and physical distancing.

Department of Environment Services

The GN maintains its critical spill response capacity. The public is reminded that all spills are to be reported to the Nunavut Spill Line at 867-920-8130, 24 hours a day:
https://www.gov.nu.ca/environment/documents/spill-response

Closed /Cancelled/Suspended services:

• A training workshop on Environmental Protection Officer Emergency Spill planned for April 2020 is now postponed.

Nunavummiut’s health is our shared responsibility! Remember: wash your hands and surfaces, practice social distancing, listen to the advice of health officials, and stay home if you’re sick.