Makivik Announces Passenger Screening to Nunavik at Trudeau International Airport and bans Intercommunity visits

Press Release

March 22, 2020 – Kuujjuaq, Nunavik – Makivik Corporation has taken measures to implement a three-question screening process at Trudeau International Airport in Dorval for passengers travelling to the Nunavik region on Air Inuit or Canadian North, both airlines owned by Makivik Corporation.

Makivik President Charlie Watt said, “We have developed this procedure in collaboration with the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services. We know there are residents of Nunavik who were outside of the country, and are returning to the region. We want to take this extra step to prevent the coronavirus from entering the Nunavik region, and we thank everyone for their cooperation. We will continue to monitor the procedure and introduce a stricter protocol if necessary.”

Working in collaboration with the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (NRBHSS) a Makivik representative, NRBHSS Nurse, and Inuk interpreter will be on hand at the airport to greet passengers before they go to the check-in counter for either airline. Screening began on March 21, 2020.

The three questions being asked to all passengers are as follows:

1. Have you travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days?
2. Have you been in contact with anyone in the last 14 days who was known to have COVID-19?
3. Have you shown any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, coughing and shortness of breath) in the last 24 hours?

Passengers who answer Yes to the first two questions will be refused check-in and be provided assistance from the Nunavik Health Board agent on site. Passengers who answer Yes to question three will be refused check-in and not be able to travel to Nunavik until symptoms clear up.

A Makivik representative will be at the airport for all forthcoming flights to assist passengers make lodging arrangements for a 14-day self-quarantine period at a nearby airport hotel. Makivik will pay for the hotel with an allocation for meals for Inuit beneficiaries and seek reimbursement from the governments of Canada and Quebec at a later stage.

Furthermore. Intercommunity visits are banned to limit the spread of COVID-19. This excludes medical and cargo and people who need to fly home.

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Contact:

Carson Tagoona
Director of Communications
Makivik Corporation

ctagoona@makivik.org
www.makivik.org

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