The Husky Centre here in Nain is opening its doors today, February 14th but there are a few changes.

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

He says the arena opens today but must follow along with the public health standards.

The number of audiences must be at half capacity and there can be hockey games but no tournaments.

People that have been in the Community Employment Enhancement Program have finished and got their hours.

With the fox situation, there are four people watching out; the two conservation officers and two dog catchers.

Dicker says if anyone see any foxes can call the Inuit Community Government office during office hours at 922-2842.

If there are any sightings outside of work hours, people must call the Royal Canadian Mounted Police office.

As of Thursday, February 10th, 2022, MHA Lela gave us an update on the numbers in Voisey’s Bay.

There are 65 confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in Voisey’s Bay.

All positive cases are in isolation and testing of close contacts is ongoing.

There were 57 close contacts in isolation (down from 91 February 9).

There were approximately 1,120 employees in Voisey’s Bay today.

Please note that until these numbers are posted by NG or LGH or another health agency I will share the numbers. They are direct from ValeNL and are factual.

The Orientation to Trades and Technology Program is open for applications for any woman over the age of 18 years of age

Judy Voisey is the Career Employment Specialist with the Women of Resource Development in Happy Valley Goose Bay.

She says the program is an amazing opportunity for any women over age 18 or any gender diverse individual who’s ready to explore their career options and trades and technology sectors

Click here to hear more information about the OTT Program with Voisey.

The NL Moravian Churches closed their doors to public in December and remained closed except for some baptisms and funerals.

We’re once again happy to say the Nain Moravian Church will be opening its doors to the public this coming Sunday, February 13th, 2022, and hold their service at 10 am that morning.

The community freezers in the Nunatsiavut communities have moose meat to offer to the public.

In Hopedale, they have moose meat and staple foods

The Makkovik freezer got a few cod and some Artic Char.

The Nain community freezer got moose, moose sausages and char.

In Postville, they only offer cod.

OK Radio will get Rigolet’s Community Freezer once it becomes available.

Yesterday COVID-19 restrictions were loosening for healthcare facilities.

Long term care facilities can now accept routine admissions short stay respites and transfers.

Hairstylists can now provide facility services and volunteers are welcome.

Group activities are now permitted, to take place and resident of unit a wing or floor can eat together without physically distancing.

Residents can also leave the home essential shopping, medical appointments banking and family home visits.

Acute patients can have two support people each which should remain consistent but be changed every 14 days.

Patients can have one person at outpatient clinic appointments or emergency department visits.

Today (Friday, February 11), Newfoundland and Labrador has 267 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last update on February 10.

There are 22 people in hospital because of COVID-19, 13 in non-critical care and nine in critical care.

There have been 256 new recoveries – 165 in the Eastern Health region, 39 in the Central Health region, 38 in the Western Health region and 14 in the Labrador-Grenfell region, and 18,048 people have recovered.

The breakdown of the 267 cases is as follows:
• Eastern Health region – 167
• Central Health region – 44
• Western Health region – 34
• Labrador-Grenfell Health region – 22

There are currently 1,598 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:
• Eastern Health – 1,138
• Central Health – 170
• Labrador-Grenfell Health – 124
• Western Health – 166

A total of 1,330 tests were completed since yesterday. To date, 493,495 tests have been administered.

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting its fifty-first and fifty-second deaths from COVID-19.

One individual is a male between 70-79 years of age in the Central Health region, and the other is a male over 90 years of age in the Western 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.

The Nunatsiavut Government is advising that COVID-19 is still active in the community of Nain. There have been no recoveries since the last update on February 7, and there are no hospitalizations due to the virus.

There are no known cases of the virus in any other Labrador Inuit communities at this time.

Public health officials continue to advise that it is likely that the virus that causes COVID-19 will continue to present itself in all Labrador Inuit communities. 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.

Please note that the second vaccine dose for children between five and 11 years of age is currently being rolled out in all Labrador Inuit communities. The vaccine is a still available for those 12 years of age and over for first and second shots, and to those 18 years of age and over for first, second and booster shots. To make an appointment, please contact your community Public Health office.

Residents of all Labrador Inuit communities are asked to keep following the public health guidance and protocols to help prevent exposure and spread of the virus.

OK Radio will have the numbers once they become available.

MHA Lela Evans had this posted on her Facebook page today:

“After a very successful meeting with Vale on Tuesday, our ICGs AngajukKak, MP Yvonne Jones and I were given access to the site Covid-19 numbers so we can share within our northern Labrador communities.

I want to thank ValeNL, especially Matthew Pike and his Aboriginal Affairs staff for their tremendous assistance in making this happen. The value of this change is immeasurable.

I also want to thank the AngajukKat Marjorie Flowers of Hopedale, Joe Dicker of Nain, Charlotte Wolfrey of Rigolet, Barry Andersen of Makkovik, and Glen Sheppard of Postville for their strong leadership on this matter. Without them, this would not have happened.

A huge thank you goes out to our MP Yvonne Jones for stepping up, moderating the meeting, and supporting our communities on this important issue.

Yvonne was already on CBC Labrador morning yesterday, giving people an update on the success of our meeting and sharing the official Covid-19 numbers. It was good hear Yvonne’s interview.

I am sure that as we get familiar with hearing the accurate Covid-19 numbers instead of rumours, things will settle down and our residents will have less stress and anxiety.

We all know the importance of preventing the spread to our communities and within our communities. Now we can move past all the rumors.

Big thank you again to our all our AngajukKat, ValeNL Aboriginal Affairs, and MP Jones for working together to make this happen.
Regards,
Lela Evans”

The Nunatsiavut Education and Economic Development has a new program on the go.

We spoke with Mary Binky Andersen who is the Business Development Specialist at Nunatsiavut Government.

She says that this initiative is aimed at supporting our Labrador Inuit Micro-Businesses and Professional Artists impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Successful applicants may receive up to $500 or $2,000 for artists.

Click here to find out more from Andersen.