It is “Gas Guess Day” in Newfoundland and Labrador and, for the second week in a row, someone other than George Murphy is at the crystal ball.

Murphy passed away a couple of weeks ago, leaving a major void in consumerism in this province.

However in steps Dan McTeague.

There won’t be much change in the price of gas tomorrow. Toronto-based gas price watcher McTeague predicts that it will go down by 0.4 cents per litre.

As for diesel, heating and stove oil, McTeague says they will increase by 0.4 cents.

The Labrador Friendship Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay will be hosting this years National Indigenous People’s Day virtually.

You can go onto their Facebook page on www.facebook.com/LabradorFriendshipCentre.

Starting on June 21 at 11am, they will have prize draws for those who interact in the video through comments, likes, and shares.

For a bonus entry you are to like their Facebook page.

Prize draws will be on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, on the Facebook page.

The provincial government is changing its schedule regarding COVID advisories.

As of this week, it will no longer issue COVID-19 advisories on weekends or provincial holidays. In addition, the hub online will not be updated on weekends.

Given the case numbers in the province, government intends to move away from updates on the weekends. Having said that, if circumstances dictate otherwise — as it did earlier this year — there will be an advisory and/or briefing.

Since this is a long weekend, case counts on Tuesday will reflect cases from the weekend.

Health Minister John Haggie and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald will be there, however Premier Andrew Furey will not.

After months of isolation from the outside world, Newfoundland and Labrador is slowly reopening its doors to travellers.

The office of Premier Andrew Furey said Tuesday that as of June 23, visitors from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island can enter the province without any testing or self-isolation requirements.

In a media release, the premier’s office cited high vaccination and low COVID-19 infection rates across the Atlantic region as reasons for its decision.

Nova Scotia simultaneously announced its plan to lift restrictions for Atlantic Canada residents on June 23. Prince Edward Island will do the same on June 27, with the caveat that incoming Atlantic Canadians must have had at least one dose of vaccine.

Newfoundland and Labrador is aiming to open to travellers from the rest of Canada on July 1. People with two doses of vaccine don’t have to self-isolate, while visitors with one dose have to present or take a rapid COVID-19 test before leaving isolation. People with no vaccine may enter the province, but must self-isolate for 14 days.

However, the province has said it’s aiming to hit a 75 per cent immunization rate before the chief medical officer of health will lift the travel ban, with low case counts and hospitalizations.

As of Sunday, more than 71 per cent of the eligible population had rolled up their sleeves for their first jab.

Hearing stories in Inuktitut from elders is so good to listen to.

Bertha Holeiter, originally from Hebron, now lives in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is one such storyteller.

She says she’s been working with different organizations over the years and up to now.

Stay tuned to PiusituKavut today to hear part two of Bertha’s story.

Today, Wednesday, June 15, Newfoundland and Labrador has two new confirmed cases of COVID-19. Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

The first new confirmed case is a male in the Labrador-Grenfell Health region between 20-39 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The second new confirmed case is a female in the Western Health region between 60-69 years of age. The case is a contact of a previous case and is connected to the cluster in the Western Health region.

There are no new recoveries in the Western Health region, 1,329 people have recovered and there is no one in hospital due to COVID-19.

There are 41 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the 41 active cases is as follows:

· Eastern Health – 3
· Central Health – 11
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 1
· Western Health – 26

To date, 155,062 people have been tested.

The Kamutik W commenced its services to the north coast on Sunday, June 13th for the summer season.

The freight office hours are from Monday to Wednesday from 8am to 5pm, on Thursdays from 8am to 7pm, on Fridays from 8am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sundays are closed.

Freight shipped will be forwarded to coastal communities on a first-in and first-out basis.

Oldest freight will be moved first with priority given to food and general supplies for the communities served.

Please be advised that due to limited space, reservations will only be booked for local passengers travelling on the northern Labrador route, Goose Bay to Nain and return.

Residents of the following communities are the only passengers who will be accommodated for travel: Rigolet, Makkovik, Postville, Hopedale, Natuashish, Nain, Goose Bay, Sheshashiu, North West River and Black Tickle.

For departures from the coastal communities, all passengers who wish to travel on the Kamutik W must call to book a space by 6pm on the day prior to departure and confirmed available, a non-refundable deposit of $25.00 per reservation is required.

For departures from Goose-Bay you will need to book a space by 6pm on Fridays for northbound trips.

Ensure you book a vehicle if you have one as this is required for load planning, if you arrive with a vehicle and haven’t booked it, you will not be accommodated.

The OKâlaKatiget radio staff contacted the coastal communities on National Indigenous People’s Day activities.

In Makkovik they will have a tent set up and will have some tea and panitsiak on June 18 from 10am to 12pm and again from 1 to 3:30pm.

In Rigolet, they will have several activities to take part and a lot of great chances to win prizes.

For each activity that you post, your name will be entered into a draw prize. You can do as many as you want during the week.

In Rigolet, they will be doing activities such as preparing traditional food, build an inukshuk, take a picture of you or your family member on the land, and write a post about a tradition that was passed down to you and continue to practice.

You must post your pictures of each activity you completed in the comment section of the poster or inbox them to DHSD Rigolet. If you do not have access to Facebook you can drop by the DHSD office and show the staff your entries. The grand prize is a round trip for one with Air Borealis.

On Wednesday, June 23, you can drop by the Labrador tent outside of DHSD for some flummies and some tea from 9:30-11:30am and 1:30-3:30pm.

All participants will be entered in to the prize draws and the winners will be posted on Monday, June 28 at 3:30pm.

If you have any questions, please call the DHSD at 947-3328.

The Nunatsiavut Government received a report in June 14 of a recent landslide halfway up the north side of Anaktalâk Bay. Debris and driftwood has been spotted in the waters near Satosoak Island.

The Nunatsiavut Department of Lands and Natural resources is advising boaters of this potential collision hazard. Please use extreme caution while boating in the Nain area.

There were 12 graduates yesterday at the Nain Day Care Center.

Michelle Ittulak is a Child Care Worker at the center.

She says that there were five babies at the Language Nest and two of them will be going to the toddler room in the fall.

Three of which will be returning to the Language Nest.

Ittulak adds that 8 children will be going to the pre-school room and 12 will be going to kindergarten.

Tomorrow will be the last day for the children at the Daycare Center and the staff will be finished for the summer on Friday, June 18.

Ittulak says that a tentative date has been set for the Daycare to open again is the first week in September.