COVID-19 GN Update - February 3, 2022

Premier’s update:

Ullakkut,

As of this morning Nunavut has 442 positive cases of COVID-19.

We have active cases in 18 communities – the reported numbers are:

• 19 in Arviat, x
• 44 in Baker Lake,
• 33 in Cambridge Bay,
• Two in Chesterfield Inlet,
• 23 in Coral Harbour,
• 87 in Igloolik
• 89 in Iqaluit,
• One in Gjoa Haven,
• Zero Kimmirut
• 14 in Kinngait,
• Zero in Kugaaruk,
• Four Kugluktuk
• Zero in Naujaat,
• Eight in Pangnirtung,
• 13 in Pond Inlet,
• Five in Qikiqtarjuaq,
• 29 in Rankin Inlet,
• Nine in Sanirajak,
• 21 in Sanikiluaq,
• 36 in Taloyoak, and
• Five in Whale Cove. 

We have 91 reported recoveries today. There have been 775 total reported recoveries in this outbreak.

I want to remind Nunavummiut of the COVID-19 resource lines we have available. Please remember that the health and wellbeing of our communities is all our responsibilities.

If you develop symptoms such as a – runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever or difficulty breathing –call the COVID hotline at 1-888-975-8601.

If you are isolating because of COVID-19, you can call 1-888-902-0872 or email isolationsupports@gov.nu.ca to access the Government of Nunavut isolation grocery hamper.

For those with travel related questions please call Government of Nunavut’s toll-free travel line at 1-833-524-0735.

Once again, I want to stress the importance of vaccination. Please get vaccinated, get your children vaccinated, and get your booster shot when you can.

As always, continue to adhere to public health measures.

• Stay home when possible.
• Stick to your small bubble.
• Wear a mask.

Together we can make our communities safer for everyone.

Qujannamiik.

 

Chief Public Health Officer Update:

Good morning,

Starting Monday, schools in Rankin Inlet and Arviat will open to 100% capacity. Active cases in both communities continue to decline and the risk to students attending classes is low.

I want to discuss the current approach to the COVID-19 response compared to what was done near the beginning of the pandemic. In 2020, we declared a public health emergency, implemented strict public health measures and set up the isolation hubs.

This approach made us the last jurisdiction in Canada to confirm a case of COVID-19, but most importantly it bought us time. Time to prepare for the vaccine’s arrival, to build our testing capacity, and time for vaccinations. In 2020 and 2021, all these factors, combined with your commitment to follow public health measures contributed to keeping our cases low and our outbreaks contained.

The best way forward is to follow the current public health measures, including limits on gatherings and wearing masks, as well as getting vaccinated. These steps will slow the spread of COVID infections, and bring the active case counts down. Otherwise COVID will continue to spread.

Now, more than ever, your actions and your collaboration are the best way to reduce the risk and lower case counts. Please follow the public health measures, stay home and isolate when sick and get vaccinated.

Thank you.

 

 

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

For all the latest information and resources about COVID-19 in Nunavut, go to:
https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/information/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

For the latest information on current public health restrictions, go to: 
https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/information/nunavuts-path

For information on upcoming vaccine clinics go to:
https://gov.nu.ca/health/information/covid-19-vaccination

 

COVID-19 case statistics: February 3, 2022

Total Tests	Total confirmed cases	Total active cases	Total recovered cases	Deaths	Total persons vaccinated with at least one dose in Nunavut	Total persons vaccinated with two doses in Nunavut	Total persons vaccinated with three doses in Nunavut
31,609	1891	442	1444	5	32,139	25,925	11,770

COVID-19 community case statistics: February 3, 2022

Community	COVID-19 status	Time period	Public case count yesterday (TOTAL)	Public case count today (TOTAL)	Change from yesterday (cases)	Cumulative Recovered	Change from yesterday (recoveries)	Total Active Cases
Kugluktuk	Ongoing	Since 23 Jan 2022	11	12	1	8	7	4
Kimmirut	Ongoing	Since 22 Jan 2022	1	1	0	1	0	0
Naujaat	Ongoing	Since 15 Jan 2022	16	16	0	16	-1	0
Kugaaruk	Ongoing	Since 14 Jan 2022	2	2	0	2	0	0
Gjoa Haven	Ongoing	Since 14 Jan 2022	5	5	0	4	0	1
Taloyoak	Ongoing	Since 11 Jan 2022	37	47	10	11	4	36
Coral Harbour	Ongoing	Since 9 Jan 2022	48	48	0	25	3	23
Whale Cove	Ongoing	Since 7 Jan 2022	20	20	0	14	2	5
Sanikiluaq	Ongoing	Since 4 Jan 2022	52	52	0	31	11	21
Kinngait	Ongoing	Since 01/02/2022	71	72	1	58	7	14
Pond Inlet	Ongoing	Since 01/01/2022	18	18	0	5	2	13
Chesterfield Inlet	Ongoing	Since 01/01/2022	7	7	0	5	0	2
Cambridge Bay	Ongoing	Since 12/30/2021	97	101	4	68	14	33
Igloolik	Ongoing	Since 12/29/2021	146	146	0	59	13	87
Baker Lake	Ongoing	Since 12/29/2021	87	95	8	51	8	44
Arviat	Ongoing	Since 12/29/2021	128	128	0	109	1	19
Sanirajak	Ongoing	Since 12/29/2021	28	30	2	21	0	9
Qikiqtarjuaq	Ongoing	Since 12/28/2021	12	13	1	8	0	5
Rankin Inlet	Ongoing	Since 12/23/2021	113	117	4	88	3	29
Pangnirtung	Ongoing	Since 12/23/2021	32	34	2	26	0	8
0	Ongoing	Since 11/04/2021	237	254	17	165	17	89
TOTAL			1168	1218	50	775	91	442

*Please note: These numbers change frequently. Every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date and complete, but it may not reflect all persons followed or tested.

** Starting 17 Jan 2022, confirmed cases include those meeting the revised Nunavut case definitions. This includes COVID-19 cases detected either by a confirmatory (PCR) or a presumptive (rapid) test.

***There may be a delay reporting attribution and statistics from cases acquired in Southern Canada. 12 cases that were detected out of territory have been attributed to Nunavut. This includes 3 deaths. Not all NU residents with COVID-19 detected out of territory will be attributed to Nunavut.

COVID-19 vaccination status: February 1, 2022

Details/Limitations:

This information shows the number of doses given in a community as of February 1, 2022. The percentage of vaccine administered is vaccine administered divided by the Nunavut population estimate for 18 and older.

Territorial totals for doses are an accurate summary. The community level data is under review to ensure appropriate attribution. Community totals will be adjusted as needed.  This may lead to minor fluctuations in the percentages by community.

Doses are typically attributed to the community in which they are administered.

Total doses given will include residents and non-residents, including rotational workers.

Multiple communities represent individuals who received doses in two separate communities, or in communities that are not their place of residence.

An individual may have received dose 1 and/or dose 2 outside of their community of residence.

This does not account for people who may have been vaccinated partially or fully out of territory.

A high percentage in one community does not equal herd immunity. There is no established or defined percentage of what herd immunity is for COVID-19. Whatever herd immunity may be it cannot achieved with current vaccine approvals (e.g. no vaccine available for children under twelve).

Source:

Statistics Canada, Demography Division, Special tabulations. Prepared by: Nunavut Bureau of Statistics, January 27, 2021.

Dose numbers are from the Department of Health's Meditech system.

Eligible adults in community are defined as the number of individuals 18 and older as per the 2020 population estimates.

The community population estimates are "non-official" since they are not based on components of population growth (births, deaths and migration). They should be used with caution.

Isolation population: 

Traveler Type	Guests in Isolation as of February 2
Medical	15
Public	0
EMTI	0
Construction	0
Total	15

Traveller repatriation summary:

Departure Date	# of Travellers from Health Isolation Sites
Feb. 3, 2022	0
Feb. 4, 2022	2
Feb. 5, 2022	0
Feb. 6, 2022	0
Feb. 7, 2022	7
Total	9

 

 

Department of Education Services

Based on the advice of the Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), starting Monday, February 7, 2022, Arviat and Rankin Inlet schools will open to 100% capacity.

• Arviat and Rankin Inlet schools will adhere to all health and safety precautions following department guidelines.
• Students and staff are reminded to wear masks at school and on the bus.

Ongoing services:

K-12 Schools

Based on the advice of the Chief public Health Officer (CPHO), starting Monday, February 7, 2022, Arviat and Rankin Inlet schools will open to 100% capacity.

• Arviat and Rankin Inlet schools will adhere to all health and safety precautions following department guidelines.
• Students and staff are reminded to wear masks at school and on the bus.

Iqaluit schools opened to 100% capacity on January 31, 2022.

• Iqaluit schools will adhere to all health and safety precautions following department guidelines.
• Students and staff are reminded to wear masks at school and on the bus.

With the exception of Coral Harbour, Igloolik, and Taloyoak, all other Nunavut schools are open to students at either 50% capacity or 100% capacity, depending on the COVID-19 situation in each community.

• Schools in Baker Lake, Cambridge Bay, Kinngait, and Sanikiluaq are open at 50% capacity.
• Schools in all other communities are open at 100% capacity.
• Schools will communicate directly to students and families regarding their status and cohort plans.
• If parents are not sure about their student’s cohort, they should contact their student’s teacher.

FANS

• The FANS office continues to process payments for students who have submitted their FANS Student Enrollment Form (SEF).
• Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) students who have not yet done so should send their FANS SEF (with Part A completed) and their NAC enrollment verification letter to the FANS office.
• Students must allow up to 15 business days from the date they submitted their required enrollment document(s) to FANS to the date they should see the funds deposited into their bank account.
• If after 15 business days students have not received a deposit in their bank account, they can email fans@gov.nu.ca to let them know. Students should attach a copy of their bank statement from January 1 to the current date.
• Questions about FANS benefits can be sent to fans@gov.nu.ca.
• Students with questions about their FANS-eligible travel can contact fanstravel@gov.nu.ca for information.
• Students who experience flight changes during their travel should email fanstravel@gov.nu.ca during office hours or, if it is after hours, call the after-hours travel number at 1-867-857-6950.

Adjusted services:

Early Learning and Child Care

As advised by the CPHO, Igloolik child care facilities may remain open for essential workers.

FANS

• During peak times for the FANS office, such as the start of a new semester, the service standard for responding to emails is 3-5 business days. Response times from the FANS office may be delayed due to active COVID-19 cases in Arviat.
• Currently, FANS staff are working remotely, and the regular FANS phone line is not being monitored. If you would like to speak to a FANS representative, please send an email to set up an appointment at fans@gov.nu.ca.
• The best way to contact FANS is by email at fans@gov.nu.ca.

Closed/Cancelled/Suspended Services:

K-12 Schools

As advised by the CPHO, schools in Igloolik and Taloyoak are closed to students and staff.

• Schools in Igloolik and Taloyoak are contacting students and parents regarding remote learning.

Sakku School in Coral Harbour is closed to students until February 4, 2022 due to operational requirements.

• School staff in Coral Harbour are contacting students and parents regarding remote learning.

 

 

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