Today, Friday, March 4 Newfoundland and Labrador has 450 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. On Thursday, March 3, there were 497 new cases. Anyone who has tested positive must follow guidelines. Cases are advised to notify contacts as per instructions on the gov.nl.ca website.

There are 16 people in hospital because of COVID-19, 10 in non-critical care and six in critical care. There have been 295 new recoveries since yesterday – 174 in the Eastern Health region, 53 in the Central Health region, 56 in the Western Health region and 12 in the Labrador-Grenfell region, and 22,829 people have recovered.

The breakdown of the 450 cases for today are as follows:

· Eastern Health region – 272
· Central Health region – 71
· Western Health region – 93
· Labrador-Grenfell Health region – 14

There are currently 2,812 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases are as follows:

· Eastern Health – 2,097
· Central Health – 289
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 99
· Western Health – 327

A total of 2,587 tests were completed since Wednesday, and to date, 517,263 tests have been administered.

Ottawa has announced plans to ban Russian owned or registered vessels from Canadian ports and internal waters.

Coincidentally, the news came few days ago in a tweet less than an hour after Premier Andrew Furey told media he’d fully support such a move.

He noted it’s federal jurisdiction, but he’d have no trouble backing any and all sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

The ban on Russia owned – or registered vessels is expected to take effect later this week under the Special Economic Measures Act.

Report from VOCM news.

The Nunatsiavut Government will be constructing a multiplex housing building in the Inuit community of Nain.

The building will consist of six units between two and three bedrooms per unit for a total of 10,000 square feet.

The NG intends to begin construction of the building in the 2022 construction season and completion of the building is scheduled for December 31, 2022.

The successful proponent will provide concept, design and project management services for the project.

The full detailed scope of work, instructions and requirements for proposals and any further information on the project can be found on the Nunatsiavut Government Merx at www.merx.com.

Proposals are to be received no later than 4pm on March 25, 2022 to Terry Rice, Capital Project Coordinator at terry.rice@nunatsiavut.com, cc: ngprocurement@nunatsiavut.com with the subject line Nunatsiavut Government Concept, Design, and Project Management: Multiplex Apartments Nain.

The lowest-cost or any proposal may not necessarily be accepted and the Nunatsiavut Government reserves the right to cancel this RFP. Proposals will be evaluated on the principals of value for money, which include an evaluation of the Inuit Content Factor pursuant to the Procurement Act.

The Nunatsiavut Government is advising that a small cluster of COVID-19 cases has been identified in the community of Postville. All cases have mild symptoms and are isolating. Contacts have been identified and are being followed up by Public Health.

There is also low COVID-19 activity reported in the community of Makkovik.

There are no known cases in any other Labrador Inuit community at this time.

Public health officials continue to stress that it is likely the virus that causes COVID-19 will continue to present itself in all Labrador Inuit communities, and that activity may or may not be documented or reported. Residents have to assume the virus is present and to continue to follow all public health protocols.

Individuals with symptoms, with no known exposure to the virus, should contact 811 or complete the online assessment tool at COVID Assessment and Referral (HOME – NLCHI) to determine if testing is required.

There was a planned power outage in Nain that took longer than expected.

Joe Dicker is the AngajukKâk for the Nain Inuit Community Government.

He says that there are no active cases of COVID-19 in the community of Nain.

Dicker adds that the trail markers aren’t done yet and says there are two guys who are trying to get it finished.

Click here to hear more from AngajukKâk Dicker.

COVID-19 is still an issue for minor hockey in the province, NL Hockey is staying cautiously optimistic that provincial tournaments will be able to go ahead.

Minor council with Hockey NL, Gonzo Bennett said they pulled the plug on Easter tournaments in early February while Omicron was spreading feverishly across the province. Just a few days later, it was announced that all COVID-19 should be lifted by March 14, meaning the tournaments could go ahead.

Bennett said that COVID-19 and isolation requirements has led to fewer volunteers around the rink for minor hockey teams and associations, which is creating some challenges.

He added some volunteers are no longer willing to take the risk of going back to the ice with COVID-19 still active in many communities, but he praises the Minor Hockey Association for recruiting new volunteers, and keeping everyone safe as possible.

Bennett said they have been keeping their fingers crossed, that provincial tournaments can go ahead, safely for the first time since 2019.

Report from VOCM.

The Omicron variant has been less in it’s impacts than previous strains, and that is translating well into the province’s hospitalizations.

That’s according to the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald.

She says it is hard to get much from the province’s data because our numbers are so small.

However, trends from across the country indicate that those do end up in hospital are there for a shorter period, and trend not to need drastic interventions.

Not to say people aren’t ending up in Intensive care Units (ICU), she says but fewer of those are requiring ventilation and things of that nature.

The number of COVID hospitalizations has dropped by 4 since the last provincial pandemic update on Monday.

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said there are 15 people in hospital due to COVID-19 virus and province reported 197 more recoveries.

The province also reported 389 new cases and 197 recoveries raising the known active caseload to 2,506.

“While were seeing a small upward trend in active cases hospitalizations remain stable”, said Dr. Fitzgerald.

She added the most recent forecast from the Public Health Agency of Canada projects an increase in Canada in province s reopening but with a lower impact in hospitalizations”.

Health officials are set to hold regular media briefing on Monday, March 14.

There will be more changes made into effect as the province pushes fully after nearly two years shrouded by COVID-19 pandemic.

Formal gatherings moved to 75% of a venues limit, while public visitations jumped to 75% capacity per room.

Bars also moved back to 75% limit and dancing is once allowed, but masks must be worn. Cinemas, perform spaces and bingo halls can fill their seats to 75% of their capacities.

Dr. Fitzgearld and Minister of Health, John Haggie will both be present at Wednesday’s briefing.

As of Monday’s update, there were 2,235known active cases in the province and 19 people were in hospital.

The afterschool and night program schedule for children have been posted for the community of Nain.

The after-school program runs from Monday to Friday from 3pm to 4:45pm and the night program runs from Monday to Thursday from 6 to 8pm.

The program will take place at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Centre.

Parents are responsible to drop off their children at the program and ensure they are picked up by 4:45pm.

Children between the ages of 5 to 7 years will not be permitted to leave the program unless notified by the parents and verbal permissions from the children is unacceptable

Children are required to have a pair of indoor footwear in the program where it is mandatory at the JS Centre.

Snacks will be provided midway through the program and junk food are not permitted but healthy snacks are welcome.

There are also children with allergies, so please be considerate of this and do not permit your child to bring peanuts, nuts certain dyes in food, fish etc.

For more information, contact the Acting afterschool program Gwen Dyson at the JS Centre at 922-2690 or 922-2691 between 2 to 5pm.

The Inuttitut UKâlalautta have been set as the new name for the Inuktitut Speak-off.

Christine Nochasak will be the host of the event.

She says the dates kept changing a few times due to COVID restrictions and have not yet been finalized until the restrictions ease off on March 14th, 2022.

Inuttitut UKâlalautta will be taking place at the Illusuak Cultural Centre, in the theater from 6 to 8pm.

The Northern Lights Academy in Rigolet, J.C. Erhardt Memorial School in Makkovik, the Amos Comenius Memorial School in Hopedale, the B.L. Morrison School in Postville and the Jens Haven Memorial School will attend the speak-off.

Two students with one teacher from each school will be chosen to participate along with two commentators, but the names are still to be determined.

We will get more information once the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District approves to get the details set in stone.

Once the approval from NLESD is confirmed, we will have all the details for the Inuttitut UKâlalautta coming from Nochasak.