COVID-19 GN Update - October 19, 2020
COVID-19 GN Update
There are still no confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut. The confirmed cases at Hope Bay mine have been attributed to their home jurisdictions.
The total number of persons followed to date is 3404. There are 550 persons currently being followed.
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 Department of Health would like to remind all Nunavummiut that travel out of Nunavut is not recommended. The second wave of COVID-19 in Canada is making the situation unpredictable.
Travellers to southern Canada are reminded that as the holiday season approaches travel is not advised. Entry into the isolation sites in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Ottawa could be delayed if there are no rooms available. Priority will also be given to medical travellers.
While the Common Travel Areas between the NWT and Nunavut, and Churchill, Man., and Nunavut continue to be in effect, this could change at any time.
If transmission of COVID-19 is confirmed in any of the Common Travel Area jurisdictions. In this event, travel could be restricted without notice and travel to Nunavut might be delayed. Travellers could also be subject to 14 days of isolation before being allowed entry to Nunavut.
Travellers in the Common Travel Areas are also reminded that a letter from the office of the Chief Public Health Officer authorizing travel is required to return to Nunavut. Travellers without a letter will not be allowed to board an aircraft. Please allow sufficient time (two to three days) between requesting the letter and the date of travel to Nunavut to avoid travel delays.
| Total (all health isolation locations) | |
| Traveler type | Guests in isolation as of Oct 17 |
| Medical | 436 |
| Public | 291 |
| Total | 727 |
Traveller repatriation summary
| Departure date | # of travellers from health isolation sites |
| Oct. 17 | 1 |
| Oct. 18 | 26 |
| Oct. 19 | 83 |
| Oct. 20 | 55 |
| Oct. 21 | 81 |
| Total | 246 |
Critical Worker Requests
As of Oct. 17, there were 7459 requests, 3513 of which were critical worker requests.
| Request status | # | % |
| Approved (includes critical and non-critical) | 4999 | 67.2% |
| Denied | 273 | 3.7% |
| Pending | 258 | 3.5% |
| Common Travel Area approved | 1929 | 25.9% |
| Total | 7459 | 100% |
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: 1,802
Department of Education Services
School action plans
- All schools are developing an action plan for each stage of COVID-19 risk. Action plans for stages 2, 3, and 4 will focus on supporting remote instruction and alternatives to in-class learning
- The Department of Education has provided guidelines and toolkits to support schools as they develop these action plans, which include:
- A plan for a staff member to have daily contact with each student they have a relationship with.
- How students will be supported if they do not have access to digital or computer technology at home, using alternatives such as telephone, radio, package delivery, etc.
- Development of “ready to go” learning and well-being packages for each student, in case a community enters stages 2, 3, or 4.
- Instruction and support for students on Individual Student Support Plans (ISSPs) will continue to be in place at all stages.
- Details on how schools will operate during each stage, including fire drills, food programs, and administrator classroom visits.
- Most schools have completed their action plans for stage 1 and are working on completing their stage 2, 3, and 4 action plans. Regional School Operations staff are working closely with school leaders to review and approve draft plans.
- 21 out of 45 schools have completed and submitted final action plans for all stages.
- Some schools have developed additional wellness support tools, for example Qiqirtaq High School in Gjoa Haven has a student wellness survey as part of their action plan.
- The Department of Education has provided guidelines and toolkits to support schools as they develop these action plans, which include:
Learning Packages
- Learning packages have been developed for each student as part of the stage 1 action plan. These packages are adapted to fit the varied needs of each student.
- Learning packages will be continually updated with new and revised material as students progress through the curriculum. These will be used, as needed, when a community moves from stage 1 to stage 2, 3, or 4.
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.