Health-care services in the Western Health region of Newfoundland came back online yesterday following the cyberattack that knocked out services more than three weeks ago.

The health authority shared brief details in a news release Monday evening, saying all impacted services — including electrocardiograms and pulmonary function testing— are now operating.

The process to rebook appointments for affected patients is underway, with a booking order being made based on clinical priority. The health authority is asking patients to answer unknown phone numbers in the coming days as it could be an official looking to rebook a cancelled appointment.

Western Health was the health authority least impacted by the cyberattack, as provincial officials have stated it was the only health authority not to have patient and employee data stolen from its database.

Some services in the Eastern Health and Central Health regions remain down as of Monday, while all services in the Labrador-Grenfell Health region have been fully operational for more than a week.

The Nunatsiavut Government has a new Minister, and a new Speaker has been appointed to the Nunatsiavut Assembly.

Marlene Winters-Wheeler, an Ordinary Member for Upper Lake Melville, will serve as the Minister of Education and Economic Development. She takes over from Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology Minister Tony Andersen, who served in the position on an interim basis.

With her appointment as Minister, Ms. Winters-Wheeler vacated her seat as Speaker of the Nunatsiavut Assembly. As a result, and based on a recommendation from President Johannes Lampe, the Assembly approved the appointment of an Ordinary Member for Canada, Susan Onalik, as the new Speaker.

The appointments were made today during a sitting of the Nunatsiavut Assembly in Hopedale.

The fall Session for the Nunatsiavut Government started in Hopedale this morning.

The morning started with Prayer, Opening Address by the President, Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.

Followed by Ministers Statements, Members statements, returns to Oral questions, Oral questions, and return to written questions, petitions, and responses to petitions.

Reports of Standing and Special Committee, Tabling of documents, notices of motion, notices of motion for first reading of bills.

First reading of bills, to second reading of bills and assent to bills with bill 2021-04 the Election Dates Amendments Act, 2021 followed by Adjournment.

They will resume tomorrow for Day two of the Nunatsiavut Assembly Sitting.

The Labrador Aboriginal Training Partnership is in the waiting mode for more programs.

Keith Jacque is the Executive Director.

He says they are waiting for more funding coming from the federal government.

Click here to hear more updates coming from Jacque.

Today Monday, November 22, Newfoundland and Labrador has three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last public advisory.

In the Central Health region:

– One 70 years of age and older.

The case is a female and is a contact of a previously known case.

In the Western Health region:

– One under 20 years of age; and
– One between 20-39 years of age.

Both cases are females and are related to international travel.

Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised regarding quarantine according to current guidelines.

There have been 10 new recoveries, three in the Eastern Health region and seven in the Central Health region and 2,002 people have recovered.

There is one person in hospital because of COVID-19 and there are currently 12 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.

The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:

– Eastern Health – 4
– Central Health – 6
– Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
– Western Health – 2

The number of tests that have been administered is not available at this time due to the ongoing IT outage.

The UNAAN Artist Program is designed for young Innu/Inuit visual artists to focus on their craft.

Participants are encouraged to explore new ideas, create, self-direct their research and time, and cultivate new directions in their work.

The UNAAN Artist Program is looking for artists who want to explore and express their heritage through visual artwork. One prize will be awarded annually and will be chosen based on submitted proposal and supporting documentation.

They allow participants to delve deeply into their practice while easing some of the financial burdens and provides financial assistance of $2,500, and aid with showcasing artwork.

The program will run each calendar year and artists may reapply year after year.

This is for visual artists aged 16-35 who are members of the Innu Nation or a Nunatsiavut Government Beneficiary.

Art can include but not limited to textiles, graphic design, ceramics, drawing, painting, crafts, photography, etc.

The deadline to put in your applications is January 1st, 2022, and the chosen applicant will be notified, and announcement will be made by January 31st, 2022.

Torngat Wildlife / Plants and Fisheries Secretariat has a job position out for a Community Coordinator in Nain.

During the Tuttusigiannik Workshop that took place which took place in Nain last September, they received a great feedback to develop this years caribou trip.

As part of this theyre looking for a community coordinator to help recruit, prepare and engage youths in this project.

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, December 8, 2021.

For those interested to apply e-mail your resume to: roz.andersen@torngatsecretariat.ca or call 709-896-8912.

More information is expected this week on the province’s plan to begin immunizing children aged 5 to 11 against COVID-19.

On Friday, Health Canada gave the green light to begin using the Pfizer vaccine for that age group. That approval is something public health in this province has been waiting for.

According to Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, there are currently about 35,000 school-aged children that are not immunized against the virus.

Dr. Fitzgerald has indicated that the province is ready to begin administering the vaccines, noting that it will take between 4 and 6 months to get the group fully vaccinated.

She says getting the rest of the school-aged kids vaccinated is the next major milestone in easing restrictions.

Meanwhile, Canada has received its first shipment of pediatric COVID-19 vaccines.

It arrived at Hamilton International Airport in Ontario Sunday evening.

According to Ottawa, by next Friday the first 2.9 million doses will be in the country, which she says is enough to give every eligible child their first dose.

Updated numbers on COVID-19 in the province will be released this afternoon.

The board members of the Torngat Fish Producers Cooperative are heading out for their meetings this morning.

This get together is earlier than the set date which was last week of November or the first week of December.

Keith Watts is the Fisheries General Manager.

He says they start their meetings tomorrow Tuesday and into Wednesday.

Watts says its Torngat Fisheries regular annual meeting will be before Christmas.

We will speak with Watts after the board concludes later this week.

The MHA for the Torngat Mountains District, Lela Evans has been very busy working with her constituents along the coast.

She says one of the things that she’s been dealing with is the housing issue.

There are many Newfoundland and Labrador housing units where they’re not occupied by people; in Nain, there are 7 housing units, and 4 or 5 units in Hopedale that are empty.

Evans adds that she spoke with the new minister, John Habbot for an update, and he said that the inspections were all completed and the scope of work that needs to be done, is done.

Click here to find out more from MHA Evans on what she’s been working on.