Active COVID-19 now in eight Nunavut communities
News Release
Active COVID-19 now in eight Nunavut communities
Iqaluit, Nunavut (December 28, 2021) – Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), is announcing 37 new cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut, with active cases now in Baker Lake, Igloolik and Arviat. Currently there are 74 active cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut- 25 in Iqaluit, 22 in Rankin Inlet, 9 in Sanirajak, 9 in Pangnirtung, 6 in Arviat, 1 in Qikiqtarjuaq,1 in Baker Lake and 1 in Igloolik.
“There is community transmission of COVID-19 in five of our communities. We need everyone to follow all the public health measures to try to get these outbreaks under control,” said Dr. Patterson. “Public health is everyone’s responsibility, and your actions determine how our communities will get through this latest wave.”
As a response to the jump in cases, strict public health measures will now be in effect Nunavut-wide until at least January 17, and travel restrictions are now in place for Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, Sanirajak and Arviat. Travel to and from those communities is restricted to essential purposes only in addition to those returning to their home community or travelling to Southern Canada. Non-essential travel, especially between communities in Nunavut, is highly discouraged.
Anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms – runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever or difficulty breathing – should call the COVID hotline at 1-888-975-8601 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. EDT or notify their community health centre right away by telephone. Please do not go to the health centre in person.
COVID-19 vaccines are available to all Nunavummiut aged 5 and older and boosters are available for anyone 12 years and older. Contact your health centre to make an appointment. For all the latest information and guidelines on COVID-19 in Nunavut, go to: https://www.gov.nu.ca/
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Media Contact:
Chris Puglia
A/Manager of Communications
Department of Health
867-975-5949
@email