There have been quite a few complaints about the Healthcare system for the North coast.

We spoke with is MHA for the Torngat Mountains district, Lela Evans.

She says that she wrote some letters to the Health Accord and spoke with the AngajukKât from Makkovik and Postville.

Evans also speaks about how concerning it is for those who are sent out for medivacs don’t have availability to beds in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and St, John’s.

Click here to find out more from MHA Evans on the healthcare system.

Today, Wednesday, March 2, Newfoundland and Labrador has 389 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. On Tuesday, March 1, there were 366 new cases.

There are 15 people in hospital because of COVID-19, 10 in non-critical care and five in critical care. There have been 197 new recoveries since yesterday – 92 in the Eastern Health region, 58 in the Central Health region, 35 in the Western Health region and 12 in the Labrador-Grenfell region, and 22,189 people have recovered.

The breakdown of the 389 cases for today is as follows:

– Eastern Health region – 270
– Central Health region – 77
– Western Health region – 38
– Labrador-Grenfell Health region – 4

There are currently 2,506 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:

– Eastern Health – 1,876
– Central Health – 267
– Labrador-Grenfell Health – 80
– Western Health – 283

A total of 2,040 tests were completed since Monday, and to date, 514,676 tests have been administered.

Please be advised that the Supportive living Program in Nain has a vacancy.

Service providers and individuals may send in referrals for occupancy as soon as possible.

Vision of Supportive Living Program:
“Everyone has a safe and supportive place to belong.”

Mission of Supportive Living Program:
“To provide a range of living options and supportive services that promote personal development and a sense of belonging within an environment of respect, tolerance and equality towards preventing and ending a person’s homelessness.”

To obtain the referrals, please contact Sheldon Lane, the Housing Program Manager at Sheldon.lane@nunatsiavut.com or call him at (709)933-3894, ext. 242.

You can also reach Jenny Oliver the Team Lead Supportive Living at jenny.oliver@nunatsiavut.com or call her at (709)922-2303.

School board, university and others remain undecided on masking requirements. While Public Health plans to drop COVID restrictions in NL in two weeks, some public institutions may still require masks, and medical school professor says face coverings are still to contain the spread of the pandemic.

In separate statements to CBC news both Eastern and Western Health said, at this time it is not anticipated that masking requirement within their facilities will change on March 14, 2022.

While Public Health measures have been loosened Monday, the province plans to repeal all COVID-19 restrictions by March 14. As of that date there will be no restrictions in place for any businesses or settings, and while wearing a mask will still be recommended by the government, it will no longer be requirement.

Central and Labrador Grenfell Health did not respond to inquiries from CBC news on the matter.

With stable hospitalization numbers, moving ahead with easing COVID restrictions.

Other public facilities in the province may also continue to require wearing masks in their facilities.

NL English School District told CBC news that “matter of mask requirements is currently under discussion., and it would premature further comment at t this time.”

Dr. Brenda Wilson, Public Health physician and professor of community health at MUN says masking will continue to be an important tool, as the province enters the endemic stage and she says she is using her mask.

The Nigivik Centre is looking for suggestions for the programming for the month of March.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, weather permitting, the Centre will hold evening programs from 4:30pm to 7pm for anyone to attend.

They are also planning family nights and cook full meals.

If anyone have any suggestions for programs, you can comment on their NG DHSD Food Security Facebook page or call the centre at 922-2968.

The Tikigiaksaugusik Festival will be going ahead with a few changes due to the restrictions.

Charlotte Wolfrey is the AngajukKâk with the Rigolet Inuit Community Government.

She says the festival is usually two to three days, but this year will be held for one day.

The festival will be going ahead on Friday, March 18, 2022.

There will be games for kids and adults, and a shooting competition in the afternoon, along with a BYOB Party at night.

She adds that the council would like the festival to be local, but anyone is welcome.

There will also be a big bingo on Wednesday, March 16th.

The Canadian Coast guard would like to inform the residents of Nain and Hopedale that they will be landing today.

This is for CCG Labrador MTCS Electronics Maintenance work.

The CCG would like to inform the community of Nain that the CCGS CG432 will be in the community today, March 2, until March 4th.

They wish to assure the communities with respect to COVID-19 protocols the CCSG Electronics and Informatic staff and CCGS Helicopter crew are all from the region and have not travelled outside the province in the last two weeks.

The crew will respect the province of NL COVID-19 protocols including social distancing and hand washing.

If anyone have any questions, require further information or have any concerns regarding the landing, they can contact Steve Porter at 709-896-2559.

The Postville Inuit Community Government has been pretty busy since the last update.

Glenn Sheppard is the AngajukKak for the Postville Inuit community Government.

He says things is coming along good as expected the plan is to get back to so called normal with the provincial restrictions.

Click here to hear more from Sheppard of what’s on the go with the Postville Inuit Community Government.

OK Radio contacted each of the north coast communities to see what recreation activities are on the go.

Lisa Ivany is the Recreation Director here in Nain.

She says they are keeping it steady until the restrictions are lifted on March 14, 2022.

As of right now, there is Card Games on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7pm, and Seniors’ Bingo are on Thursdays at 1:30pm.

The Afterschool program is held from 3 to 4:45pm for registered children only.

There are sports in the gyms such as volleyball, basketball, ball hockey and badminton at 6pm, and the fitness room is open everyday from 2 to 9pm.

The Hopedale Inuit Community Government has a call-in worker and is waiting for the position to be filled.

The afterschool program is open from 1 to 5pm and 6 to 8pm.

Recreational activities are volleyball, table tennis, and badminton.

They will release a monthly schedule in Postville and are accommodating age groups.

The Makkovik Inuit Community Government is operating the arena with scheduled activities such as Minor hockey, Public skating, Men/Women’s hockey.

The Youth center is open to limited hours.

The Rigolet Inuit Community Government will be holding a Tikigiaksaugusik festival as of 18th of this month.
They also have the Francis Camble shooting match on the 19th.

Levi Pottle Dog team race on the 26th.

Ice hockey for adults from 3-5pm on the 18th

They will also have all day target shooting and from 6-7pm will be broom ball.

And the Big Bingo will start on the 16th.

Feel free to join in with the festival.

The Nunatsiavut Government is planning to build a new certified airport for the Inuit Community of Nain, NL to replace the existing airport infrastructure that is currently under stress from the effects of climate change. The new site will have a gravel airstrip measuring 5000 ft in length and 100 ft in width, exclusive of the maneuvering areas, with a surface area of approximately 1300 m set aside for future development. The new airport will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to serve the local population during all season and will act as the center for emergency response for the region.

The Nunatsiavut Government is currently seeking proposals for the completion of the R3 Environment Review – Desktop Assessment.

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 posting at www.merx.com

Proposals are to be received no later than 4 pm on March 24, 2022 to Colin Gilbride, Director of Infrastructure and Planning at colin.gilbride@nunatsiavut.com and must be clearly marked: Nunatsiavut Government Nain Airport: R3 Environmental Review – Desktop Study.

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