COVID-19 GN Update - November 23, 2020

COVID-19 GN Update - November 23, 2020

Premier’s update:

Good morning. Today, Nunavut has four new cases of COVID-19. There are three new cases in Rankin Inlet and one new case in Whale Cove.

Nunavut now has a total of 132 active cases of COVID-19. The total number of persons followed to date is 4644. There are 933 persons currently being followed.

Arviat, Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet, we’re all supporting you from across the territory.

Nunavummiut, thank you for your efforts over the weekend to adhere to our public health measures. Please keep them up and stay vigilant.

I know it’s hard, but we need to stay apart, so we can all come back together healthy and well. We need to think of everyone; our whole community, rather than ourselves. This pandemic is forcing us all to look at the bigger picture and we all have responsibility. It’s our individual actions that will slow and stop this virus.

If you are still socializing outside your household, stop. It’s time to practice community care and consideration. We all knew this would be hard, but we all need to do our part. We know what to do, and we know the consequences if we don’t.

If you don’t need to leave home, just don’t. If it’s not essential, don’t travel. Don’t take chances with your health or anyone else’s.

Stay Well. Stay Safe. Stay Home.

Minister of Health update:

Good morning. I know the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases we have seen over the last week has many worried.

As Dr. Patterson has told us, this is not unexpected, and it shows our health teams are working hard to find everyone who has the virus. 

It shows that the contract tracing is working and yes it will take a while to get everyone that needs to be tested, tested.  I also want to remind people that it is important to get accurate information. Don’t listen to rumours and social media comments. Rumours just spread fear.

We are communicating with the public every day and are meeting with hamlet leadership on a regular basis to make sure you have accurate and up to date information. 

But we need your help. I know it's hard to stay home, however we must all do our part in containing the spread of the virus. You have heard Doctor Patterson state that you can pass the virus on before you even know you have it. Before you have a positive test. That is why it is so very important that you follow the rules even if you do not think you are sick.

I also want to ask people who are in isolation in the south that while we recognize how difficult isolation can be, your actions make a difference. If you are not following the rules, you are putting people at risk. 

Isolation in the south is not a vacation. There are rules. Breaking the rules puts your communities and your loved ones at risk. So please, always practise social distancing, wash your hands, don't go visiting, don't share cigarettes or drinks. 

We are all used to doing many of these things all the time, but we have to stop and carefully think about our actions. We need to break these habits if we want everyone to stay healthy. 

We all must work together to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. We must act to protect ourselves, our families and our communities.  Our actions now affect everyone's health, all the time.

Chief Public Health Officer update:

Good morning. Today I want to talk about the way this virus spreads and the importance of isolation.

I know isolating can be difficult especially for those who do not have symptoms, but it is one of our best defences against COVID-19. For those people who do not have symptoms but are a high-risk contact, meaning you have had significant exposure to COVID-19, isolation is absolutely necessary.

People can still spread the virus when they don't have symptoms, this is asymptomatic transmission, and it is one of the reasons that COVID-19 can spread so quickly.  Some people with COVID-19 can spread the virus at least two days before the first symptoms develop. Others can spread the virus for up to 10 days without developing any symptoms.

Imagine the number of people you see in one day, then multiply that number by two days or ten days. If you are transmitting the virus during that time, you could pass it on to others who could spread it to others. By the time people know they are sick, they could have infected many more, who will continue to spread the virus.

To stop the spread of the virus we need to isolate it. Moving people who are positive or people who are high risk contacts from one house to another, will only spread the virus further.

Isolation must be taken seriously and the rules around isolation are there to protect your community. If you are isolating because you have COVID-19 or you are a high-risk contact, you must:

• Stay inside your home.
• If you need groceries have someone who is not under isolation bring them to your door and leave them outside for you.
• Do not go to other houses.
• Do not allow visitors.
• Keep your distance as much as possible inside the house.
• Wear a mask.
• Do not share food or utensils.
• Disinfect high touch surfaces such as the bathroom area, kitchen area and common living area.

I realize isolation is not easy and it can cause a lot of stress, but if everyone follows the rules it will help us contain the virus faster and that will allow us to once again loosen the restrictions.

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

COVID-19 case status: Nov. 23

COVID-19 case per community status: Nov. 23

Testing stats to date: Nov. 23

Isolation population:

Traveller repatriation summary:

Critical Worker Requests:

As of November 22, there were 9218 requests, 4311 of which were critical worker requests.

Department of Community and Government Services

Requests to enter the territory for construction related projects or to travel within the territory for construction related projects can be emailed to @email

Construction workers who completed isolation to date: 2,207.

Department of Education Services

New developments in programs/ services:

Edsby online training platform update:

• All staff training has been completed.
• All staff accounts have been activated.
• All students account invitations have been sent.
• Student accounts are in the process of being activated.
• Once a student’s account has been activated, then the parent account can be activated.

Only parents who have provided their school with an email address will have an Edsby account activated.