NU Government: COVID-19 Department of Health Services update
As Dr Patterson has already indicated, Nunavut’s strict border measures are likely among the last of the public health measures that will be lifted or altered. Right now, travel into Nunavut represents the single biggest risk for introducing COVID-19. The travel ban, and the 14-day isolation requirements for returning Nunavummiut, are meant to mitigate this risk and keep our territory safe.
Knowing that, I’d like to take this opportunity to share information on the new process being implemented for reserving stays in GN southern isolation facilities. Moving forward, all Nunavummiut who must travel outside of the territory should contact the email address NUisolationreservations@nunavutcare.ca and submit an Isolation Reservation Request Form as soon as they know their plans for travel. From there, the travel team will work to identify room availability and reserve your stay in one of the designated isolation facilities.
This new streamlined process is meant to help Nunavummiut plan for their 14-day quarantine period farther in advance and ensures that our travel team can anticipate and accommodate travellers in the coming months. More information, including intake days requirements, can also be found on the Department of Health’s website.
Remember, non-essential travel outside of the territory is still not recommended.
All individuals who are applying for critical worker exemption will continue to use the email address CPHOTravelRequests@gov.nu.ca.
Finally, the Department of Health has made temporary amendments to the Medical Travel Policy to help keep our medical travellers and escorts safe from COVID-19. Specific provisions have been added to ensure that medical travellers and escorts abide by rules of social distancing, hand-washing hygiene, and other behaviours that help to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The amendments also more clearly outline the requirements for both medical travellers and escorts to complete 14 days of self-isolation at a designated isolation facility prior to returning to Nunavut.
As we continue to look at ways of easing public health measures and returning the activities we enjoy, we must remain diligent and aware that the threat of COVID-19 has not yet passed.
Please continue to maintain physical distancing and handwashing practices, and limit any non-essential travel out of the territory. Thank you.
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
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
New Email for Travellers
A new email address has been established for Nunavummiut planning travel outside of the territory. All travellers must submit an Isolation Reservation Request Form to NUisolationreservations@nunavutcare.ca as soon as travel plans are known to ensure that the travel team can identify room availability and reserve stays in a designated isolation facilities. More information can be found on the Department of Health website.
Individuals applying for critical worker exemption will continue to contact the email CPHOtravelrequests@gov.nu.ca.
Volumes
|
Total (All Isolation Locations) |
|
| Traveler Type |
Guests in Isolation as of June 7 |
| Medical Travel |
168 |
| Public |
189 |
| Students |
0 |
| Total |
357 |
Traveller repatriation summary:
| Departure Date |
# of Travellers from Isolation Sites |
| June 6 |
7 |
| June 7 |
8 |
| June 8 |
28 |
| June 9 |
24 |
| June 10 |
18 |
Critical Worker Requests
As of June 7, there are 1,433 requests, 1,085 of which are critical worker requests.
| Request Status |
# |
% |
| Approved (includes critical and non-critical) |
1223 |
85.3% |
| Denied |
157 |
11.0% |
| Pending |
53 |
3.7% |
| Total |
1433 |
100% |
Read More: https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/news/covid-19-department-health-services-update
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