NU Government: COVID-19 Department of Health Services update
Press Release
Since it was confirmed that the detected COVID case in Nunavut was a false positive, the territory has witnessed great displays of solidarity, support, and pride. The additional restrictions in Pond Inlet have been lifted, and I hope that the community feels a measure of relief knowing that they are still COVID-free.
This is good news. As a territory, we have done well so far.
However, we cannot allow our celebration to lapse into complacency. It is more important than ever that we maintain these rules that we’ve all become familiar with. The threat of COVID-19 is still very real and we need to stay the course.
- Practise social distancing.
- Avoid contact with individuals who are not a member of your household.
- Limit trips for errands.
- Purchase only the supplies that your household needs.
- And, of course, wash your hands.
There is no combination of measures that can absolutely guarantee the prevention of COVID-19. Even as we celebrate for Pond Inlet, all Nunavummiut need to remain vigilant and cautious. Follow the rules, and encourage your friends, family, and neighbours to do the same.
I want to thank all Nunavummiut for their continued patience, understanding, and cooperation. We can only get through this together.
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:
Travel outside the territory as of May 7, 2020:
The Government of Nunavut’s decision to charge $2,100 per individual and $1,050 for each additional family member during the mandatory 14-day isolation stays for residents returning to the territory has been reversed.
The Government of Nunavut will continue to cover these costs as long as mandatory isolation for residents returning to the territory is in place.
Please keep in mind that travel outside of Nunavut during the COVID-19 pandemic is not advised.
Department of Health Services
COVID Hotline and Self-Assessment Tool
Anyone who has reason to believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 is advised to call the COVID-hotline at 1-888-975-8601 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., or notify their community health centre right away, and immediately isolate at home for 14 days.
Anyone with access to internet can also take the online self-assessment tool nu.thrive.health
Volumes
|
Total (All Isolation Locations) |
|
| Traveler Type |
Guests in Isolation as of May 5 |
| Medical Travel |
177 |
| Public |
137 |
| Total |
314 |
Traveller repatriation summary:
| Departure Date |
# of Travellers from Isolation Sites |
| May 5 |
22 |
| May 6 |
15 |
| May 7 |
24 |
| May 8 |
12 |
| May 9 |
21 |
Critical Worker Requests
As of May 5, there are 872 requests, 667 of which are critical worker requests.
| Request Status |
# |
% |
| Approved (includes critical and non-critical) |
727 |
83.4% |
| Denied |
107 |
12.3% |
| Pending |
38 |
4.4% |
| Total |
872 |
100% |
Department of Health Services, May 4, 2020
Chief Public Health Officer update
At this time, I would like to inform Nunavummiut that the test result showing COVID-19 has turned out to be a false positive result. This means that although the first test result showed COVID-19 infection, further investigation and testing have not shown any other evidence of COVID-19 infection in Pond Inlet.
As I have previously mentioned, no lab test is perfect. There is always a chance of false positive or false negative results. When interpreting results and deciding on an appropriate course of action, we consider many pieces of information, of which test results are just one piece. We always aim to err on the side of caution.
Diagnostic tests are part of an entire system of measures to intervene on COVID-19 infection. In these circumstances the test gave an incorrect result, but the rest of the system (public health nurses, contact tracing, surveillance) have not identified any other cases of COVID-19 infection.
The information available so far includes:
- The individual involved has not been outside of Pond Inlet for some time.
- We have not identified an exposure to COVID-19.
- We have not found any other cases of COVID-19 in Pond Inlet.
- We have not noticed any increase in significant respiratory infections.
For all of the reasons above we believe that the individual in Pond Inlet does not, and never did have COVID-19. As a result, our rapid response team will stop operating in Pond Inlet and the members of the team will begin preparing for future deployments. All territorial orders under the Public Health Emergency remain in effect.
However, the additional measures specific to Pond Inlet as a result of the positive COVID-19 case are now lifted. Effective immediately, travel between Pond Inlet and other Nunavut communities may resume, and the community-specific restrictions on businesses and services in Pond Inlet are also rescinded.
Department of Health Services
COVID Hotline and Self-Assessment Tool
Anyone who has reason to believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 is advised to call the COVID-hotline at 1-888-975-8601 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., or notify their community health centre right away, and immediately isolate at home for 14 days.
Anyone with access to internet can also take the online self-assessment tool nu.thrive.health
Volumes
|
Total (All Isolation Locations) |
|
| Traveler Type |
Guests in Isolation as of May 3 |
| Medical Travel |
187 |
| Public |
125 |
| Total |
312 |
Traveller repatriation summary:
| Departure Date |
# of Travellers from Isolation Sites |
| May 3 |
14 |
| May 4 |
58 |
| May 5 |
11 |
| May 6 |
17 |
| May 7 |
23 |
Critical Worker Requests
As of May 3, there are 840 requests, 643 of which are critical worker requests.
| Request Status |
# |
% |
| Approved (includes critical and non-critical) |
698 |
83.1% |
| Denied |
100 |
11.9% |
| Pending |
42 |
5.0% |
| Total |
840 |
100% |
Ongoing services:
Access to health care services will remain available in all communities seven days a week. All non-urgent requests will be triaged daily. Immediate access to urgent and emergent health care services are and will continue to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All clients are asked to call before presenting at a health facility.
- In Iqaluit, public health, the emergency room and inpatient unit will remain open.
- Well baby clinics, prenatal visits and immunizations are continuing across Nunavut.
- Physicians will continue community visits. If this is not possible, the visits will be conducted by telehealth or by phone.
Adjusted services:
Appointments at health facilities are being triaged, this means the appointment may be over the phone or in person.
Medical travel services have been reduced to urgent medical travel only. Clients will be advised of these changes and involved in discussions.
In Iqaluit, outpatient clinics and rehab are triaging all appointments and conducting appointments. Lab and Diagnostic Imaging services at QGH are on reduced services. All upcoming appointments are being triaged.
MHA has moved to telephone check in and support for some clients. Scheduled appointments for medication pick up and administration remain the same. If you are in crisis, present to the health centre. Home visits to administer medications will be treated on a case by case basis.
Closed /Cancelled/Suspended services:
Only emergency dental services will be provided in until further notice.
Speciality clinics have been cancelled. Work is underway to determine which clients can be seen by phone/virtual care.
All non-essential travel for mental health clients and families are cancelled. All non-essential travel for families visiting clients in care is cancelled.
No visitors will be allowed at long term care facilities in Nunavut – Continuing Care Centres (CCCs) and Elders’ Homes.
Department of Health Services, May 1, 2020
Chief Public Health Officer update
I’d like to give an update on the current status in Pond Inlet:
- The patient is isolated, and still doing well.
- The Rapid Response Team is in the community, and they are implementing containment and contact tracing.
- As the team completes additional testing, there is the possibility that more positive cases may be confirmed in the community. This does not necessarily mean that there is community transmission and should not be cause for alarm. What this does mean is that the Rapid Response Team is doing their job, which is finding the virus and stopping it from spreading.
- Containment is key, and right now it is our top priority.
- As this process takes place, the Government of Nunavut will continue to support the community of Pond Inlet.
I also want to take a moment and thank the municipality of Pond Inlet and its residents for allowing me to answer their questions earlier today on the community radio.
Moving forward, I would like to remind all Nunavummiut, using the strongest possible terms, that every single social interaction carries a degree of risk. Despite all of the Government of Nunavut’s preventative measures, and the new containment measures now in place within Pond Inlet, it is impossible to reasonably predict where or when COVID-19 may be detected next.
I urge all Nunavummiut to exercise a high degree of caution, and to seriously consider these risks before participating in a gathering of any kind. If you deem it necessary to participate in gatherings, then please keep track of the people with whom you interact, as this information may be necessary in case contact tracing needs to be conducted in your community.
Health staff cannot get us through this alone. How well we do, and where we go from here, depends on the actions of every single Nunavummiut. Right now, the best way of slowing the spread of COVID-19 continues to be through social distancing and effective hygiene.
If everyone follows these rules together, we can put ourselves in the best position to make it through this uncertain time. It’s more important than ever that we be careful, responsible, kind, and supportive.
I’d like to thank Nunavummiut for their continued cooperation and understanding.
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:
Travel outside the territory as of May 7, 2020
- Starting May 7, 2020, Nunavummiut who chose to travel outside Nunavut while the CPHO’s travel ban is still in effect will have to cover the costs of their 14-day isolation period in one of the Government of Nunavut’s isolation sites.
- The fee for a single individual in a room is $2,100 for the 14-day period, and each additional family member in the room will pay $1,050.
- Updates will be provided as they become available.
Department of Health Services
COVID Hotline and Self-Assessment Tool
Anyone who has reason to believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 is advised to call the COVID hotline at 1-888-975-8601 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., or notify their community health centre right away, and immediately isolate at home for 14 days.
Anyone with access to internet can also take the online self-assessment tool nu.thrive.health
Travelers
|
Total (All Isolation Locations) |
|
| Traveler Type |
Guests in Isolation as of May 1 |
| Medical Travel |
187 |
| Public |
125 |
| Total |
312 |
Traveller repatriation summary:
| Departure Date |
# of Travellers from Isolation Sites |
| May 1 |
19 |
| May 2 |
7 |
| May 3 |
14 |
| May 4 |
56 |
| May 5 |
14 |
Critical Worker Requests
As of April 30, there are 821 requests, 626 of which are critical worker requests.
| Request Status |
# |
% |
| Approved (includes critical and non-critical) |
675 |
82.1% |
| Denied |
100 |
12.2% |
| Pending |
47 |
5.7% |
| Total |
821 |
100% |
Ongoing services:
Access to health care services will remain available in all communities seven days a week. All non-urgent requests will be triaged daily. Immediate access to urgent and emergent health care services are and will continue to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All clients are asked to call before presenting at a health facility.
- In Iqaluit, public health, the emergency room and inpatient unit will remain open.
- Well baby clinics, prenatal visits and immunizations are continuing across Nunavut.
- Physicians will continue community visits. If this is not possible, the visits will be conducted by telehealth or by phone.
Adjusted services:
No visitors allowed at Qikiqtani General Hospital, except for one visitor for maternity or palliative patients and escorts for minors.
Appointments at health facilities are being triaged; this means the appointment may be over the phone or in person.
Medical travel services have been reduced to urgent medical travel only. Clients will be advised of these changes and involved in discussions.
In Iqaluit, outpatient clinics and rehab are triaging all appointments and conducting appointments. Lab and Diagnostic Imaging services at QGH are on reduced services. All upcoming appointments are being triaged.
MHA has moved to telephone check-in and support for some clients. Scheduled appointments for medication pick up and administration remain the same. If you are in crisis, present to the health centre. Home visits to administer medications will be treated on a case by case basis.
Closed /Cancelled/Suspended services:
Only emergency dental services will be provided in until further notice.
Specialty clinics have been cancelled. Work is underway to determine which clients can be seen by phone/virtual care.
All non-essential travel for mental health clients and families are cancelled. All non-essential travel for families visiting clients in care is cancelled.
No visitors will be allowed at long term care facilities in Nunavut – Continuing Care Centres (CCCs) and Elders’ Homes.
Read More: https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/news/covid-19-department-health-services-update
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