Today, Thursday, February 17, there are 16 people in hospital because of COVID-19, 11 in non-critical care and five in critical care. There have been 261 new recoveries – 180 in the Eastern Health region, 42 in the Central Health region, 24 in the Western Health region and 15 in the Labrador-Grenfell region, and 19,246 people have recovered.

Newfoundland and Labrador has 316 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last update on February 16

The breakdown of the 316 cases is as follows:
· Eastern Health region – 224
· Central Health region – 37
· Western Health region – 41
· Labrador-Grenfell Health region – 14

There are currently 1,750 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:
· Eastern Health – 1,268
· Central Health – 144
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 105
· Western Health – 233

A total of 1,264 tests were completed since yesterday. To date, 499,517 tests have been administered.

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting its sixty-first death from COVID-19. The individual is a female between 70-79 years of age in the Western Health region. The department is sending its condolences to the family of this individual and asks everyone to respect the family’s privacy at this time.

The Nain Moravian Church 251st Anniversary will be going ahead on Saturday, February 19 this year.

There will be three church services at 10am, 3pm love feast and closing service at 5pm.

There will be a regular church service on Sunday, February 20th.

Also the Young Men’s Day, Widows Day, and Married Couple’s Day will be going ahead.

The Church members will be meeting sometime soon before the days goes ahead.

OK Radio will have more for you after the meeting is held.

The Nain Young Women’s Traditional Day is next month and right now they held two meetings.

Joan Dicker is the Manager of at the Illusuak Centre and she has been holding the meetings with them.

After school yesterday, there were 8 girls attending the meeting along with two who had already their day before.

Dicker says there will two more girls coming to Nain to have their day.

She added if any girls are interested in joining their day they are welcome.

Academy Canada has been proud to train people from many countries around the world.

Floyd Spracklin the ABE professor here in Nain.

He says right now they are operating with two students and newcomers are scheduled to come in on Monday.

Everything is going well, they recently had a graduate who is Lovey Ford.

The students are sanitizing, mask wearing and social distancing.

The Hayne’s General Store and the Puff N’ Snack in the community of Nain has some sales going on for the public.

Herman Webb is the manager for Hayne’s store.

He says the sales are going well and still have a lot in stock.

Everything in stock is on special sale of 30% off and will be happening until the end of March, depending how stocks will go.

There will be more updates from Webb when the time comes.

Dorman Webb is the Manager for the Puff N’ Snack.

He says they are still sorting things out and the novelty items, candy and ornaments are on sale.

The federal and provincial governments announced $300,000 in funding to help address homelessness in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

In recent years, the demand for emergency housing has increased dramatically.

$200,000 of the coast-shared funding is being provided to the Nunatsiavut Government to support the Housing Hub emergency shelter.

$100,000 is being provided to the Labrador Friendship Centre to complete what’s being called a community-led needs assessment to identify gaps in infrastructure or services required.

Click here when Minister Asivak tells you more about the funding for the Nunatsiavut Government.

Today, Wednesday, February 16, Newfoundland and Labrador has 179 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last update on February 15. Anyone who has tested positive must follow guidelines. Cases are advised to notify contacts as per instructions on the website.

There are 16 people in hospital because of COVID-19, 10 in non-critical care and six in critical care. There have been 176 new recoveries – 120 in the Eastern Health region, 24 in the Central Health region, 12 in the Western Health region and 20 in the Labrador-Grenfell region, and 18,985 people have recovered.

The breakdown of the 179 cases are as follows:

• Eastern Health region – 113
• Central Health region – 20
• Western Health region – 34
• Labrador-Grenfell Health region – 12

There are currently 1,696 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases are as follows:

• Eastern Health – 1,224
• Central Health – 150
• Labrador-Grenfell Health – 104
• Western Health – 218

A total of 869 tests were completed since yesterday, and to date, 498,253 tests have been administered.

Newfoundland and Labrador are reporting its 58th, 59th, and 60th deaths from COVID-19. The individuals are all males over 80 years of age, one in the Eastern Health region and two in the Central Health region. The department is sending its condolences to the families of these individuals and asks everyone to respect the families’ privacy at this time.

Newfoundland and Labrador will put an END to its COVID-19 restrictions by March 14th, including capacity limitations, masking, and proof of vaccine requirements.

Leading up to March 14th, there will be a continued easing of restrictions.

Effective at 12:01am on February 21st:

• Informal gatherings can increase to 25 people;
• Faith based gatherings 75% (with vax pass), or 50% without Vaxpass;
• No changes in other formal gatherings limits;
• Gyms, Restaurants can operate up to 75%;
• Sports can participate in out of region competition, but only 1 game a day (no tournaments);
• Retail stores no restrictions; and,
• No changes to bars, theatres, will remain at 50%.

All border control and travel restrictions will be dropped on February 28th, and rapid testing will be voluntary.

The Youth Center is now open to the public as of last Monday.

Kim Oliver is the Regional Youth Outreach.

She would like to advise everyone that the Youth Center is still following the COVID restrictions and protocols.

Oliver also adds that the limit is 4 to 6 youth to ensure the safety of others.

Which is social distancing, mask wearing and hand hygiene.

Right now, they are planning on having atigik making, but right now they are waiting on their materials.

So, keep an eye out for advertising.

The Nigivik Centre have got some mouth-watering meals planned to make for anyone to join for the month of February.

The Centre can take a maximum of four people due to restrictions.

On Wednesdays, the Nigivik will be making bread from 8:30am to 12pm and 1 to 4pm.

Ethan Angnatok will go down to the Youth Centre on Fridays for youth ages 13 to 30 years to make different meals.

Today, February 16th, anyone is welcome to make some bread over to the Nigivik Centre until 4pm.

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 17th, they will be making potato soup for anyone to make from 4:30 to 7pm.

Angnatok will go down to the Youth Centre to make some spaghetti and meatballs this Friday, February 18th.

On Tuesday, February 22nd, people of all ages are welcome to make some homemade mac & cheese from 4:30 to 7pm.

Next week, February 23rd, will be bread making during work hours.

On February 24th, the Nigivik will be making rabbit pie from 4:30 to 7pm for anyone to join.

Friday, February 25th, Angnatok will go down the Youth Centre to decorate some cakes with the youth.

There have been sightings of rabid foxes in the community of Hopedale.

Ian Winters is the conservation officer.

He says that there was one rabid fox sent and the next day another one was sent out for testing.

As of today, one fox was confirmed rabid.