GN releases Nunavut’s Path: Living with COVID-19

Press Release

Iqaluit, Nunavut (August 3, 2021) – Today, the Government of Nunavut released Nunavut’s Path: Living with COVID-19. This document will support Nunavut as it transitions from a pandemic response, to a long-term response to adapt to COVID-19 as a vaccine-preventable disease.

“What we’ve learned since the beginning of the pandemic, including our response and testing capacity, as well as the availability of safe and effective vaccines, now allows us to take a step forward and adjust how COVID-19 is managed in the territory,” said Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer. While certain risks remain, we are no longer as limited in our options or in the choices we make to keep Nunavummiut safe.”

Nunavut’s Path: Living with COVID-19 will be guided by:

• community vaccination uptake;
• the status of COVID-19 in Nunavut;
• the status of vaccination rates and of COVID-19 cases in neighbouring jurisdictions;
• the territory’s testing and response capacity; and
• the emergence of, and vaccine effectiveness on, variants of concern.

Until Nunavummiut of all ages have the opportunity to be vaccinated, a certain level of public health measures will continue to be necessary to act as a safety net in our communities. Nunavut’s Path outlines the minimum public health measures required to manage existing risk, identifies public health measures according to three separate, community-specific vaccination levels, and identifies how to declare future outbreaks.

“As Nunavut works to a time when COVID-19 public health emergencies will no longer be necessary, it will be the actions of all Nunavummiut that determine our success,” said Premier Joe Savikataaq. “Everyone should make choices that will help keep our families, friends and communities safe. Get vaccinated, follow public health measures and stay home if sick.”

For information on Nunavut’s Path go to: https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/information/nunavuts-path

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Media Contact:

Cate Macleod
Press Secretary to Premier Savikataaq
867-975-5059
[email protected]

Chris Puglia
A/Manager of Communications
Department of Health
867-975-5949
[email protected]

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