The Nunatsiavut Government wishes to report that there are currently no known active cases of COVID-19 in any of the five Labrador Inuit communities.

All of the 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community of Nain have recovered.

Public health officials have advised that it is likely that the virus that causes COVID-19 will eventually be present in all 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 at nlchi.nl.ca to determine if testing is required.

Residents of all Labrador Inuit communities are asked to keep following all public health guidance and protocols, including those around isolation.

Please note that the second vaccine dose for children between five and 11 years of age will begin in all Labrador Inuit communities in early February. 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.

Today, Thursday, January 27th, in Newfoundland and Labrador there are 20 people in hospital because of COVID-19, 13 in non-critical care and seven in critical care. There have been 544 new recoveries – 310 in the Eastern Health region, 129 in the Central Health region, 76 in the Western Health region and 29 in the Labrador-Grenfell region, and 13,934 people have recovered.

Newfoundland and Labrador has 378 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last update on January 26. Anyone who has tested positive must follow guidelines. Cases are advised to notify contacts as per instructions on the website.

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting its 35th, 36th, 37th and 38th deaths from COVID-19. The individuals are a female between 40-49 years of age and a male over 70 years of age in the Eastern Health region; a female over 70 years of age in the Western Health region; and a female over 70 years of age in the Labrador-Grenfell 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 breakdown of the 378 cases is as follows:

· Eastern Health region – 258
· Central Health region – 48
· Western Health region – 49
· Labrador-Grenfell Health region – 23

There are currently 2,510 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:

· Eastern Health – 1,960
· Central Health – 180
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 87
· Western Health – 283

A total of 2,091 tests were completed since yesterday. To date, 476,309 tests have been administered.

OK Radio contacted the Makkovik AngajukKâk to see what the ice conditions is like.

Barry Andersen is the AngajukKâk.

He says that most of the ice around the community is pretty good.

Andersen says that people need to watch out for the ice going up north even though it’s not recommended to travel.

But the ice from the Makkovik Bay down to Postville is good.

The AngajukKâk adds that the trail marking has started yesterday and will be done within a week.

It was a sad day yesterday, with 3 people who died from the province-all in Central region bringing the total number to 34.

20 people are in the hospital and there are a total of 304 new cases. There are 308 who recovered and that brings the total number to 2,860.

With 240 recovered in the Eastern, 36 Central and 23 in the Western region.

The provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald outlined the delicate and constant balance Health Clinic is trying to achieve in dealing with the fast spread of Omicron variant.

The virus is not as virulent as previous COVID variants of concern, leading to questions of the province remaining under Alert Level 4 even as people are being informed to live with COVID.

Dr. Fitzgerald says she knows some parents have concern with this decision, adding they’re trying to prevent is symptomatic student from being caught in repeated cycles of isolation something that she says take a different kind of toll.

She cautioned yet again not to assume that just because students are back in the school that this is time to return to normal activity everywhere.

Public Health has announced some changes to isolation and testing requirements for people who have recovered from COVID-19.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says with the high case numbers being reported, and thousands of others that have likely gone unreported, many will find themselves once again exposed to COVID shortly after recovery.

As a result, anyone with a COVID infection that began on or after December 21 does not have to isolate or get tested if they are identified as a close contact within the following 90 days.

She explains that because Omicron is a relatively new variant, there is limited data on reinfection. However, given what they know about the immune response to viruses it is expected that protection will last for 90 days. This applies to people of all ages and vaccination statuses.

A small number of visitors at a homeless shelter in Happy Valley-Goose Bay have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Nunatsiavut Government.

Michelle Kinney, the Deputy Minister of Health in Labrador.

They are isolating offsite, and the shelter is otherwise operating as normal.

The Happy-Valley Goose Bay shelter can house up to 20 people.

The outbreak comes days after one at the Gathering Place in St. John’s, forcing some staff members to self-isolate.

The 30-bed shelter at the facility continues to remain open to those in need, Executive Director Paul Davis said Sunday.

March 1, BMO and ITK reported moving to Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 5 for all the province.

All students return to classes on the north coast communities that day. New *B117 was a concern for NL where there were 88 cases in the United Kingdom.

March 2, NG announced 2020 Commercial Fishery Applications for the north coast communities and Upper Lakeville beneficiaries. NG approved a 5-year Language Strategy for Labrador Inuktitut.

March 4, Trail markers put down on the harbor in Nain. Master Apprentice program received funds for NunatuKavut. BMO and ITK partnered to help people in Inuit Nunangat.

March 5, NG announced 33 moose harvested for the north coast. First Light, Aboriginal Centre hires Stacy Howse as New Executive Director. NG announced 100 caribou and 25 Muskox will be delivered from Port Manvers by Green Team Construction. NL reported 84 new cases in the province. NL announced province moving back to Alert Level 4 in March 13. National Day of Observance was started for people who lost ones in Canada.

Mar.13 marks one year the World Health Organization was declared a global pandemic. Government of Canada to help food needs to First Nations, Inuit and Metis. Also, daylight Savings happens on the weekend. Public Health hoped the outbreak at St. Clare’s was over. NL reported moving to Alert Level 3 in the province. George Lyall of Nain retired from his position as Adult Probation Officer from the Justice Department. The caribou and muskox meat arrived Labrador. Illusuak Centre opened their door for the public in Nain. Also, the fitness room up JS Centre opened. Easter Bunny visited outside of people’s homes in Nain. Andrea Proctor new book titled “A Long Journey” about residential school in NL was published.

March 23, NL reported moving back to Alert Level 3. HOPE Lights was put up at the Nain Ballfield. The significance and the make of the Labrador Flag flies proudly since 2017. Elections of NL was published on the weekend on March17.

Today is the last day for Bell Let’s Talk Day.

The Nain Department of Health and Social Development has a new challenge for participants.

They are asking anyone to post as many statuses (not comments) on Facebook as you can with the hashtag and include #BellLetsTalk to be entered for a chance to win one of three prizes:

• 75-inch pelican sled
• $100 gas or oil
• $50 gas or oil

Entries will close at 3 pm today, then Rutie and Craig will go live for the prizes.

OKâlaKatiget Radio contacted each of the respected communities along the coast for an update on their community freezers.

The Nain Community freezer has char but are only doing emergency deliveries.

If anyone would like to put their name in for deliveries, can call 922-2380 or contact the Nain Community freezer through Facebook; they will need your name, address, and phone number.

The Hopedale Community freezer have moose meat.

They are doing deliveries for seniors, those with disability, and for those who do not have transportation.

If you would like to have moose meat delivered to your home, you can contact the Hopedale community freezer at 933-3864, they are open from 8:30am to 12pm, and 1 to 4:15pm.

The community freezer in Postville got moose meat, char, and cod.

They are not doing deliveries, but are doing call-in appointments, you can call Katelyn Chaulk at 479-9830 during regular office hours to do a pickup.

The Makkovik community freezer only have char.

They are also doing call-ins to pick up the char, you can call the office at 923-2221 to pick up the char during office hours.

Nunatsiavut Assembly is holding their first sitting of the new year in Nain.

The virtual sitting began on Monday into today.

There are quite a few issues to be discussed.

OKâlaKatiget Radio will be speaking with President Lampe tomorrow when he’s available.