NU Government: COVID-19 Department of Health Services update
Press Release
The new Order Respecting Social Distancing and Gatherings, which came into effect on April 24, replaces the mass gathering order issued on March 23, 2020.
The new order adds clarity around gatherings and social distancing and provides easy to understand scenarios that will help Nunavummiut more easily follow the order. It will also help businesses understand how to adjust their operations to ensure public safety and continued operation. Finally, the changes will also assist law enforcement and peace officers to more easily interpret the intent of the order in the unlikely event there is a need for enforcement.
I’d like to outline some of the new definitions and information provided in the new order.
Food service establishments and licensed premises remain closed. Restaurants can still provide options for take-out or delivery, as long as they abide by the rules of social distancing while doing so.
All businesses deemed as Personal Service Providers must also remain closed. These include hair dressing, barbering, massage therapy, and other similar establishments. Additionally, dentists, veterinarians, and psychologists must remain closed, except for emergencies. Public playgrounds, municipal parks, and day-use areas of territorial parks also remain closed.
Though still subject to closures and limitations, the following businesses are permitted to remain open: any business large enough to maintain a two-metre social distance within the workplace, or businesses that limit customers to no more than five at a time. The five-at-a-time rule does not apply to businesses that are large enough to maintain social distancing throughout the entire premise, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and similar facilities.
The order provides a definition to gatherings. All organized public gatherings of more than five people remain prohibited. This includes concerts, community events, sporting events, and ceremonies such as marriages, funerals, or memorial services.
Finally, all social gatherings, including social gatherings in private dwellings, shall be restricted to five persons or fewer. This includes play groups, club meetings, and meals with individuals who do not reside together.
This new order does not mean that restrictions are being loosened, or that the Government of Nunavut has re-assessed the territory’s position or tolerance for risk. Instead, the definitions under this new order have been aligned with definitions being applied in other jurisdictions. This makes restrictive measures clearer and more consistent in their application and enforcement.
It is strongly recommended that Nunavummiut limit contact with anyone who is not a member of their immediate household. Any social gathering carries a degree of risk, especially when we are looking at individuals from multiple different households mingling together. Nunavummiut must still exercise caution at all times, practise social distancing to the greatest extent possible, and wash hands and all shared surfaces thoroughly and often.
The previous order met the intended purpose of providing necessary tools to help protect public health. However, The Government of Nunavut recognized the need to provide clearer language and definitions.
For this reason, the Department of Justice worked with the Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) to prepare a new Order to ensure the language is clear and understandable while remaining true to its intent.
Department of Health Services
NEW HOURS: COVID Hotline
Need to talk to someone if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or have recently travelled to or from an affected area? Do you have questions about travel to Nunavut or the isolation sites? Please call 975-8601 or 1-888-975-8601 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.to speak with someone. Please remember this line is for those who need it – and should not be used for general inquiries.
If you have questions or need help in an emergency, call your local health centre.
Dental Services
Emergency dental services only will be provided in Nunavut communities until further notice.
If you live in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, or Cambridge Bay and are experiencing severe dental pain or infection, you can contact the dental clinics listed below to report your problem.
- Iqaluit: Regional Dental Coordinator at QGH @ 867-975-8600 ext 6206
- Rankin Inlet Dental Clinic @ 867-645-2776
- Cambridge Bay Dental Clinic @ 867-983-4171
If your call is not answered, please follow the instructions provided in the message.
Please do not visit a dental clinic unless you have been given a pre arranged appointment time. People showing up at these clinics without a pre arranged appointment time will not be seen.
We ask that you arrive to your appointment on time, as we may be unable to accommodate late arrivals.
For those not living in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet or Cambridge Bay and who are experiencing severe dental pain or infection, please call your local health centre.
Travellers
|
Total (All Isolation Locations) |
|
| Traveler Type |
Guests in Isolation as of April 26 |
| Medical Travel |
221 |
| Public |
118 |
| Total |
339 |
Traveller repatriation summary:
| Departure Date |
# of Travellers from Isolation Sites |
| April 24 |
3 |
| April 25 |
0 |
| April 26 |
14 |
| April 27 |
72 |
Critical Worker Requests
As of April 26, there are 743 requests, 560 of which are critical worker requests.
| Request Status |
# |
% |
| Approved (includes critical and non-critical) |
613 |
82.5% |
| Denied |
90 |
12.1% |
| Pending |
40 |
5.4% |
| Total |
743 |
100% |
Department of Health Services, April 24, 2020
Chief Public Health Officer update
I’d like to announce that today the Government of Nunavut is rolling out a free online self-assessment tool for COVID-19. This resource is user-friendly, available in all four official languages, and can be accessed through the Government of Nunavut webpage at https://gov.nu.ca/health/information/covid-19-novel-coronavirus.
The purpose of this self-assessment tool is to provide Nunavummiut with real-time information and recommendations based on self-reported symptoms or recent travel history. The tool will help Nunavummiut determine whether they should self-isolate, and when they should contact a health care service provider for additional follow-up or testing.
This tool is meant to supplement the existing resources that are already available, and it is not a replacement for social distancing and good hygiene, such as washing regularly. Mass gatherings are still banned, and everyone is still required to follow the rules.
Nunavummiut who don’t have access to online resources but believe that they are displaying COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, are encouraged to call the COVID Hotline at 1-888-975-8601. You can also ask someone with internet access to complete the self-assessment on your behalf by sharing with them your travel history and any symptoms that you may be experiencing.
Department of Health Services
Dental Services
Emergency dental services only will be provided in Nunavut communities until further notice.
If you live in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, or Cambridge Bay and are experiencing severe dental pain or infection, you can contact the dental clinics listed below to report your problem.
- Iqaluit: Regional Dental Coordinator at QGH @ 867-975-8600 ext 6206
- Rankin Inlet Dental Clinic @ 867-645-2776
- Cambridge Bay Dental Clinic @ 867-983-4171
If your call is not answered, please follow the instructions provided in the message.
Please do not visit a dental clinic unless you have been given a pre arranged appointment time. People showing up at these clinics without a pre arranged appointment time will not be seen.
We ask that you arrive to your appointment on time, as we may be unable to accommodate late arrivals.
For those not living in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet or Cambridge Bay and who are experiencing severe dental pain or infection, please call your local health centre.
Face covering requirements for air travellers
The Government of Canada is directly that all travellers (with limited exceptions) must have a removable non-medical mask or face covering large enough to cover their mouth and nose during their travel through Canadian airports and in-flight. This directive is in effect as of Monday, April 20, 2020 at 12:00 ET.
Customers who do not have mandatory face covering will not be allowed to travel. Please note that these coverings do not need to be medical masks. Any face covering including a scarf or similar item is acceptable.
Volumes
|
Total (All Isolation Locations) |
|
| Traveler Type |
Guests in Isolation as of April 23 |
| Medical Travel |
218 |
| Public |
117 |
| Total |
335 |
Traveller repatriation summary:
| Departure Date |
# of Travellers from Isolation Sites |
| April 24 |
3 |
| April 25 |
0 |
| April 26 |
14 |
| April 27 |
72 |
Critical Worker Requests
As of April 23, there are 691 requests, 514 of which are critical worker requests.
| Request Status | # | % |
| Approved (includes critical and non-critical) | 568 | 82.2% |
| Denied | 87 | 12.6% |
| Pending | 36 | 5.2% |
| Total | 691 | 100% |
Department of Health Services, April 22, 2020
Face covering requirements for air travellers
The Government of Canada is directing that all travellers (with limited exceptions) must have a removable non-medical mask or face covering large enough to cover their mouth and nose during their travel through Canadian airports and in-flight. This directive is in effect as of Monday, April 20, 2020 at 12:00 ET.
Customers who do not have mandatory face coverings will not be allowed to travel. Please note that these coverings do not need to be medical masks. Any face covering including a scarf or similar item is acceptable.
Isolation Sites
Those in isolation have access to cable, internet, three meals a day, fresh linens and cleaning supplies. Garbage is picked up daily. These costs are covered by the Government of Nunavut. The GN will pay for diapers, baby formula and feminine products. Guests are responsible to order these products through the provided delivery services, but they will not be charged for the items.
The information package has been updated to include information on grocery orders and take out. Both can be delivered to the hotel. These deliveries and related costs are not covered by the GN.
Read More: https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/news/covid-19-department-health-services-update
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