Today (Monday, January 17), Newfoundland and Labrador has 239 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last social media update on January 16. Anyone who has tested positive must follow guidelines as outlined here. Cases are advised to notify contacts as per instructions on the website.

The breakdown of the 239 cases are as follows:

In the Eastern Health region:
Thirty-seven under 20 years of age;
Sixty-six between 20-39 years of age;
Twenty-three between 40-49 years of age;
Nineteen between 50-59 years of age;
Nineteen between 60-69 years of age; and
Eight 70 years of age and above.

There are 83 females and 89 males.

In the Central Health region:
Four under 20 years of age;
Fifteen between 20-39 years of age;
Four between 40-49 years of age;
Six between 50-59 years of age;
Two between 60-69 years of age; and
Eight 70 years of age and above.

There are 24 females and 15 males.

In the Western Health region:
Six under 20 years of age;
Nine between 20-39 years of age;
Eight between 40-49 years of age;
One between 50-59 years of age; and
One between 60-69 years of age.
There are seven females and 18 males.

In the Labrador-Grenfell Health region:
One between 20-39 years of age.

There is one male.

There are also two cases that are the result of testing completed by a private lab outside of a Regional Health Authority:
Two between 40-49 years of age

There are two males.

There have been 416 new recoveries – 205 in the Eastern Health region, 37 in the Central Health region, 94 in the Western Health region and 80 in the Labrador-Grenfell region, and 7,670 people have recovered.

There are 15 people in hospital because of COVID-19, 12 in non-critical care and three in critical care.

There are currently 5,325 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:
Eastern Health – 4,126
Central Health – 277
Labrador-Grenfell Health – 488
Western Health – 295
Unknown RHA – 139

To date, 457,207 tests have been administered

The 2022 Commercial Fishery Applications are now available at the Nunatsiavut Government offices in Upper Lake and Nunatsiavut.

All applications and required document must be completed and submitted to the Fisheries Specialist by February 28 at 4:30 pm Atlantic time. For additional instructions, please see application form.

For further information, please contact Todd Broomfield, Director of Renewable Resources at (709) 923-2004.

Government is providing direction on updating NL VaxPass after you receive an additional dose of vaccine (e.g. booster dose).

Additional doses will not automatically display in NLVaxPass; you will need to delete your COVID-19 vaccination record from NLVaxPass and add a new one.

For instructions on how to do this, please see page 10 of the NLVaxPass Quick Reference Guide at www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/files.

If your current COVID-19 vaccination record indicates a ‘Green Status’ in NLVaxPass, the status will remain green with or without the COVID-19 booster at this time.

Vaccination clinics may document your booster dose electronically or by using paper. To speed up the delivery of COVID-19 boosters, there has been an increase in the paper process, which may cause a delay in your booster displaying on your COVID-19 vaccination record.

The Nain DHSD staff would like to remind our listening audience some tips on how to stay safe from COVID-19 in our community.

Rutie Lampe is the Mental Health and Addictions worker.

She says not everyone is following the protocols during this pandemic and would like to remind everyone to social distance, stay in your bubble, and wash your hands.

Click here to hear more COVID-19 tips from Lampe.

Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe is calling on residents of Nain to remain vigilant by continuing to follow all public health protocols in order to minimize potential exposure and spread of COVID-19 in the community.

“The response to COVID-19 from front-line workers in our communities, especially in Nain where there has been an outbreak, has been overwhelming,” says President Lampe. “Our nurses, other valued healthcare workers, and those who continue to maintain essential services, worked tirelessly during the holiday season, and deserve to be recognized for their efforts.”

There are currently no new cases of COVID-19 in Nain. To date, there have been 23 positive cases in the community. There have been 20 recoveries, leaving three active cases. Nobody is in hospital because of COVID-19, and there are no presumptive cases in any Labrador Inuit community.

“The fact we have been able to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Nain speaks volumes to the efforts of not only our front-line workers, but also residents,” says President Lampe. “We are all making sacrifices in order to protect each other. By working together and supporting each other, we are making a difference in the fight against COVID-19.”

While the spread of COVID-19 has stalled, things can change quickly, noted President Lampe.

“As we’re seeing in other parts of Labrador, especially in Upper Lake Melville, the Omicron variant spreads very fast, and it is likely to reach other Labrador Inuit communities at some point. It is important that we limit travel and continue to adhere to the advice of our public health officials if we are to minimize impacts on our communities. As Labrador Inuit we have demonstrated time and time again that we can overcome adversity, and I am confident this will be the case again as we continue to live with COVID-19.”

A target date of Monday, January 24 has been set for the return to in-class instruction for students under the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (NLESD).

The Department of Education will continue to work with public health officials to monitor the risk level, and final confirmation of this targeted return date will occur on Wednesday, January 19. A key component of this plan to return in-class instruction is the use of COVID-19 rapid test kits for students, teachers, administrators and staff.

Distribution of rapid tests to schools is already underway, and kits will be rolled out to families and staff once a date to return is finalized, in advance of required testing. School administrators will provide information to parents and guardians on how to access their kits.

Prior to resumption of classes, all students, teachers and staff will be required to take two tests at home approximately 72 hours apart. If classes resume on Monday, January 24 as planned, the first test should be done on Friday, January 21 and the second on the morning of January 24.

The Nunatsiavut Assembly will sit virtually the week of January 24 to minimize the risk of potential exposure to COVID-19.

“It is unfortunate that we find ourselves having to hold another virtual sitting due to this pandemic,” says the Speaker of the Nunatsiavut Assembly, Susan Onalik. “It is in the abundance of caution with respect to the health and safety of ourselves and our communities that we must do so at this time.”

There are growing concerns that travel to, from and between Labrador Inuit communities, including by snowmobile, is likely to increase in the days and weeks ahead as snow and ice conditions improve throughout the region.

“It can’t be stressed enough just how important it is for people to remain in their home communities, and to only travel if it is absolutely essential,” says Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe. “COVID-19 only moves when people move, so our best defense is to stay put and to continue following all public health protocols. We can’t afford to take any chances.”

The Assembly sitting will be simultaneously translated in both Inuttitut and English and steamed live at Nuntasiavut Government – Assembly Meeting (livemeetings.ca) and on the Nunatsiavut Government Facebook page.

The Province moved to Alert Level 4 effective midnight last night for two weeks.

Yesterday, the province reported 519 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the 20th death in the province due to COVID-19.

• 276 in Eastern
• 64 in Central
• 43 in Western
• 125 in Labrador Grenfell

One person is currently in hospital due to COVID-19.

There are 2, 925 active cases in the province.

Modified Alert Level 4 will include:

• Limiting interaction to your “tight 10” individuals outside of your household;
• Gyms and fitness, Arenas, can open with 50 people per room or at 25% capacity-whichever is fewer people;
• Arts performances and sports are suspended;
• Restaurants can continue at 50% capacity, max 6 people per table;
• No change for child care; and,
• Personal services (hair salon, etc) can remain open.

The Nunatsiavut Government wishes to provide the following update regarding the latest on COVID-19:

• As of January 3, 15 confirmed and three presumptive cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Nain. No cases have been identified in any other Labrador Inuit community.
• Newfoundland and Labrador has moved to Alert Level 4 in an effort to decrease transmission of the virus.
• There is a significant demand for COVID-19 testing throughout the province. The Chief Medical Officer of Health has announced changes to the criteria for PCR testing Monday in order to ensure that those most at risk are able to access appropriate testing. Nunatsiavut Public Health Nurses have been briefed on the changes and continue to work diligently to ensure follow up of cases and contacts.
• Vale is keeping Nunatsiavut Government informed about the enhanced public health measures being taken to keep workers at Voisey’s Bay safe.

All travelers coming to Newfoundland and Labrador are required to fill out a travel form, provide COVID-19 vaccine documentation (if applicable) and self-isolate for at least 5 days.

If you are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or do not have proof that you are fully vaccinated, you are required to self-isolate. You can avail of a modified self-isolation period with receipt of a negative COVID-19 test taken no earlier than day 7 of your self-isolation period.

Parents/guardians should fill out this form on behalf of children under the age of 16.

A Travel Form will need to be completed for fully vaccinated children under the age of 12.

Travellers entering Newfoundland and Labrador from international locations, and whose travel is approved by Canada Border Services Agency, must follow both the self-isolation and testing requirements as outlined by the Government of Canada and the self-isolation and testing requirements of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Submitted forms cannot be edited. If you make a mistake, you will need to re-submit the form.

If you are fully vaccinated, you will only need to complete the form once. You will use the same reference # each time you arrive in Newfoundland and Labrador.

If you are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, you will need to complete it each time you travel to Newfoundland and Labrador.

No one should travel with symptoms of COVID-19. Commercial airline and ferry restrictions may also prevent you from boarding if you are sick.