COVID-19 GN Update – January 20, 2022
Press Release
20 January 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.
IHT5
