COVID-19 GN Update - January 20, 2022

January 20, 2022

Premier’s update:

Ullakkut,

As of this morning Nunavut has 175 positive cases of COVID-19.

We have active cases in 19 communities – the reported numbers are:

• 35 in Arviat,
• 35 in Baker Lake,
• 16 in Cambridge Bay,
• One in Chesterfield Inlet,
• Four in Coral Harbour,
• Zero in Igloolik
• 16 in Iqaluit,
• One in Gjoa Haven,
• 14 in Kinngait,
• Zero in Kugaaruk,
• 12 in Naujaat,
• Zero in Pangnirtung,
• Zero in Pond Inlet,
• One in Qikiqtarjuaq,
• 17 in Rankin Inlet,
• Four in Sanirajak,
• 11 in Sanikiluaq,
• Five in Taloyoak, and
• Three in Whale Cove. 

We have 50 reported recoveries today. There have been 428 total reported recoveries in this outbreak.

Today, we are announcing the final initiative in this round of the Government of Nunavut’s COVID-19 Response Plan. We have allocated $625,000 in direct contributions to each of Nunavut’s Hunters and Trappers Organizations. Each HTO will receive $25,000. These funds are to support harvesters in providing healthy country food during the COVID-19 pandemic. This money can be used to organize and pay for the costs for harvesting. For more details, please contact Department of Environment. You can email jaliqatuqtuq@gov.nu.ca or call 867-975-7781.

Qujannamiik Minister Akeeagok for this work.

The Minister is here to answer any questions regarding this initiative.

I want to remind Nunavummiut to do your part to keep our communities safe, especially as our children return to the classroom next week.

Please continue to:

• Stay home when possible.
• Stick to your small bubble.
• Get vaccinated.
  • And get your booster shot.
• Wear a mask.
• Alert the COVID hotline and isolate if you have any symptoms.

As always be kind – we are all in this together.

Qujannamiik.

 

Minister of Health Update:

Good Morning.

I’d like to speak about how important vaccines are in the fight against COVID-19.

By now, you’ve all heard the experts – like Dr Patterson, and other respected health professionals – urge people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Ask yourself - how many times have you heard this message: ‘Get vaccinated’. And ask yourself: why do our experts keep repeating it?

They share this message, and they repeat this message, because it’s true. Despite Omicron being a new variant, and being more contagious, their advice is still critically important. These are the facts. The COVID-19 vaccines still hold great benefit for those who roll up their sleeves. Vaccines still help keep our families, friends, and coworkers safe.

Despite the repeated messaging, I’m concerned that still too many Nunavummiut aren’t vaccinated, or are only partially vaccinated. And so today I’d like to appeal to the families and friends of those people. If you know someone who needs a vaccine – please, speak to them, listen to their concerns. Help them to access reliable information about vaccines. Help them to book an appointment. I know opinions on vaccines can be strong, and it can be frustrating at times, but please don’t give up.

Finally, I’d like to thank the Mayor and Councils of the Hamlet of Arviat, the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet and the City of Iqaluit who have all decided to implement vaccine mandates for entry to their facilities. Your leadership is helping the collective effort to protect Nunavummiut from COVID-19. Matna for encouraging more Nunavut residents to get their COVID-19 vaccination.

 

Chief Public Health Officer Update:

Good morning.

As announced earlier this week, 1 Nunavummiuq died due to COVID-19 infection Monday night. I would like to take this time to express my condolences to the family who has lost a loved one. This individual was not fully vaccinated and was over 70 years old.

Over the last week, there has been a significant increase in the number of infected individuals in Baker Lake. As a result, schools in Baker Lake will be at half capacity when they open next week. Moving forward we will continue to assess each community on a weekly basis and when appropriate the capacity at schools will be lowered, for at least 1-2 weeks. The goal is to keep the risk of exposure to the same level, or less, than the risk of exposure due to other activities in the community.

One daycare in Iqaluit has closed due to a COVID-19 exposure on site. Testing and contact tracing is taking place.

 

 

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 stats: January 20, 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
27,614	1,277	175	1097	5	31,623	25,197

COVID-19 community case statistics: January 20, 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
Naujaat	Ongoing	Since 15 Jan 2022	12	12	0	0	0	12
Kugaaruk	Ongoing	Since 14 Jan 2022	2	2	0	2	2	0
Gjoa Haven	Ongoing	Since 14 Jan 2022	2	2	0	1	1	1
Taloyoak	Ongoing	Since 11 Jan 2022	5	5	0	0	0	5
Coral Harbour	Ongoing	Since 9 Jan 2022	14	15	1	11	10	4
Whale Cove	Ongoing	Since 7 Jan 2022	12	13	1	9	0	3
Sanikiluaq	Ongoing	Since 4 Jan 2022	14	17	3	6	4	11
Kinngait	Ongoing	Since 01/02/2022	47	48	1	34	7	14
Pond Inlet	Ongoing	Since 01/01/2022	1	1	0	1	1	0
Chesterfield Inlet	Ongoing	Since 01/01/2022	6	6	0	5	0	1
Cambridge Bay	Ongoing	Since 12/30/2021	43	51	8	35	3	16
Igloolik	Ongoing	Since 12/29/2021	18	18	0	18	0	0
Baker Lake	Ongoing	Since 12/29/2021	40	45	5	10	9	35
Arviat	Ongoing	Since 12/29/2021	115	119	4	84	2	35
Sanirajak	Ongoing	Since 12/29/2021	20	21	1	17	0	4
Qikiqtarjuaq	Ongoing	Since 12/28/2021	7	8	1	7	0	1
Rankin Inlet	Ongoing	Since 12/23/2021	76	79	3	62	6	17
Pangnirtung	Ongoing	Since 12/23/2021	26	26	0	26	0	0
Iqaluit	Ongoing	Since 11/04/2021	109	116	7	100	5	16
TOTAL			569	604	35	428	50	175

*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: January 17, 2022

Details/Limitations:

This information shows the number of doses given in a community as of January 17, 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 January 19
Medical	6
Public	2
EMTI	4
Construction	0
Total	8

Traveller repatriation summary:

Departure Date	# of Travellers from Health Isolation Sites
Jan. 20, 2022	7
Jan. 21, 2022	2
Jan. 22, 2022	0
Jan. 23, 2022	1
Jan. 24, 2022	2
Total	12

 

 

Department of Family Services

New developments in your programs/ services:

Family Wellness Division continues to be available 24/7 for services. CSSWs are available in all communities during the day,  with the exception of the Kinngait office that is closed for walk ins and available for the non-urgent matters by distance and online. All emergencies in Kinngait community are attended to in person, following COVID guidelines.

Ongoing services:

Kinngait office Continues provision of services 24/7 accessed by on-call number:        (867) 222-0795      

Adjusted services:

In person and walk-ins have been suspended for Kinngait office for non-emergency situations.

Closed /Cancelled/Suspended services:

Kinngait office is closed.

 

 

Department of Education Services

New developments in your programs/services:

As advised by the CPHO, schools will reopen to students at either 100% capacity or 50% capacity next week, depending on the COVID-19 situation in each community.

As stated by the CPHO today, beginning on January 24:

• Schools in Iqaluit, Kinngait, Arviat, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, and Baker Lake will open at 50% capacity unless otherwise advised by the CPHO.
• Schools in all other communities will open at 100% capacity.
• Schools will communicate directly to students and families regarding their status and cohort plans.
• If parents are not sure when their student is returning to class, they should contact their student’s teacher.

Ongoing services:

FANS

The FANS office continues to process payments for students who have submitted their Student Enrollment Form (SEF).

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.

Early Learning and Child Care

Child care facilities were permitted to reopen on January 17 to all children.

Adjusted services:

• Response times from the FANS office may be delayed due to active COVID-19 cases in Arviat.

Closed/Cancelled/Suspended Services:

K-12 Schools

January diploma exams for Nunavut students have been cancelled. Students who were scheduled to write a diploma exam in January 2022 will receive an exemption and their school mark will stand for 100% of their overall mark.

Early Learning and Child Care

No new updates.

 

 

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.