The Department of Health and Social Development is having a 5 day Family Challenge for Nain residents only, starting today, Monday, March 1, until Friday, March 5, 2021.

All families that participate will be entered into a random draw, and only one family will win the draw.

The draw date will be Monday, March 8, 2021.

The prize for this challenge is a $100 gift card from Northern.

Families that participate please post your pictures on the Facebook Post under the comment section. Please also add a caption when posting, for example; “Day 1___”.

For the first day, today, March 1st, your family must read a book together.

Day 2, Tuesday, March 2nd, your family must play a board game together.

For day 3, Wednesday, March 3rd, you must do some Arts & Crafts.

On day 4, Thursday, March 4th, you must prepare a meal together.

And for on the last day 5, Friday, March 5th, you must watch a Movie or Show Marathon together.

If you have any questions, please contact Jane or Lisa at the DHSD office at 922-2126.

Last week the OKalaKatiget Society contacted the Inuit Community Governments to find out how they were dealing with Alert Level 5.

We had spoken with the AngajukKâk in Nain, Joe Dicker, Postville’s Glen Sheppard and AngajukKâk for Hopedale, Marjorie Flowers.

Today we will be speaking with AngajukKâk in Makkovik Barry Andersen and AngajukKâk for Rigolet Charlotte Wolfrey to find out what restrictions they have in place for Alert Level 4.

Today (Friday, February 26), Newfoundland and Labrador has four new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The four new confirmed cases are as follows:

In the Eastern Health region:

• One between 20-39 years of age;
• One between 60-69 years of age; and,
• One 70 years of age and above.

In the Central Health region:

• One between 20-39 years of age.

There are three females and one male.

Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

There are no new or outstanding presumptive positive cases.

There are 287 active cases of COVID-19.

The regional breakdown of the 287 active cases is as follows:

• Eastern Health – 282
• Central Health – 2
• Labrador-Grenfell Health – 1
• Western Health – 2

There have been 48 new recoveries in the Eastern Health region. There have been three new recoveries in the Central Health region and one new recovery in the Western Health region. This means 682 people have recovered from the virus.

There are 11 people in hospital. Of these patients, five are in intensive care.

To date, 111,049 people have been tested.

People are reminded that they can check their COVID-19 test results online here.

The risk of community spread in the Avalon region remains high. This means the Avalon region will remain in Alert Level 5. This will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Public Health continues to advise against travel in and out of the St. John’s metro area, except for essential purposes.

Public Health has determined that the St. John’s metro area outbreak has not resulted in community spread to the rest of the province.

This means all areas outside the Avalon region will move to Alert Level 4. This will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Alert Level 4 goes into effect tonight Saturday, February 27, 2021, at 12:01 a.m.

The areas outside the Avalon region include:

• Labrador-Grenfell Health;
• Central Health;
• Western Health; and,
• Zone 4 of Eastern Health, which encompasses the Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas, as well as the Clarenville area, including the Isthmus.

People are encouraged to download COVID Alert to help reduce the spread of the virus. It is available for free through the Apple or Google Play app stores.

Public Health is reminding people about the phrase People, Space, Time, and Place.

• People – The more people you interact with, the greater the risk of spread.
• Space – The closer you are to others, the greater the risk of spread.
• Time – The more time you spend with others, the greater the risk of spread.
• Place – Indoor activities with others are more risky than outdoor activities.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should continue to practice good infection prevention and control practices.

These practices include:

• Stay informed, be prepared and follow Public Health advice;
• Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds;
• Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer in the absence of soap and water;
• Do not touch your face;
• Practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette;
• Wear a non-medical mask in public indoor spaces;
• Maintain physical distancing;
• Increase cleanliness and ventilation of public spaces and worksites;
• Work from home, if possible; and,
• Stay home if you are sick and avoid contact with others.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.

Vale Newfoundland and Labrador has issued a Shipping Notice to the Public from yesterday Thursday, February 25, 2021.

The MV Umiak 1 Voyage VBME 0221 is scheduled to arrive Edwards Cove Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 6:00.

Extreme caution should be exercised around the ships track.

Safe ice crossings are currently located at Pannaivik, Tabor Island, John Hayes Harbour and TaKtok.

The health, safety and well-being of our employees remains our priority and we continue to take preventive measures to ensure your safety. As the M/V Umiak 1 arrives in and departs from port at Voisey’s Bay, we are taking every precaution for everyone’s safety in relation to COVID-19. The Captain will personally supervise the operations to ensure that his crew follow all protective measures while our shore crew are on board. Any questions or concerns, please email vnl.info@vale.com

Further shipping information will be available through the Information line at 1-877-922-SHIP (7447), and the Vale Shipping Information Number is 709-922-4437, or the Vale website at www.vale.com/canada.

Yesterday, Thursday, February 25, the Nain Community Freezer had a food giveaway.

The community freezer staff and volunteers gave away Char and Chicken yesterday morning.

Carla Pamak is the Inuit Research Advisor for Nunatsiavut Government.

She says the community freezer gave out Eggs, Yogurt, Fruits, Vegetables, and Milk to the community in the afternoon.

Pamak says food and fruit items were donated from VALE NL at Voisey’s Bay Mine Site.

She added the donations were given to the communities, because there not many workers at the mine site now, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Pamak would like to give a big thank you to VALE NL for the generous donation. It was a big help to the people of Nain and made a lot of people happy.

Marjorie Flowers, is the AngajukKak of the Inuit Community Government Office in Hopedale.

She says the community of Hopedale also received donations from VALE NL, and they too are delivering the food items to everyone today, Friday, February 26.

She says they started with the seniors first, then single parents, then to the other residents in town.

Flowers would like to say a big thank you to VALE NL for sending the food items to the Hopedale community, and it was a big help and very well appreciated.

The communities along the North coast have been on lockdown since February 11th, 2021.

Glen Sheppard is the AngajukKâk for the Postville Inuit Community Government.

He says the office is closed to the public and all recreation activities have been cancelled until further notice.

Also, their office employees have been working at home where they can be reached if anyone need any assistance.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut today to hear more from Sheppard on the COVID-19 restrictions in Postville.

The OKâlaKatiget Society has a job opening for a Television Producer.

This position is a full-time permanent position.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Identifying story ideas and conducting research
• Operating camera, lighting and audio equipment
• Planning and conducting interviews and sources
• Outlining and writing scripts for editing
• Transcribing
• Digitally editing film on Avid software

This position is open until filled.

Applicants are preferred to be bilingual in Inuktitut and English as well.
You can send in your resumes by email at arlene.ikkusek@oksociety.com or Sarah Abel at sarah.abel@oksociety.com.

For more information, you can contact the OKâlaKatiget Society office at 922-2955.

Today, Thursday, February 25, Newfoundland and Labrador has 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The 10 new confirmed cases are as follows:

In the Eastern Health region:

· Two under 20 years of age;
· Two between 20-39 years of age;
· Four between 40-49 years of age;
· One between 50-59 years of age; and,
· One between 60-69 years of age.

There are three females and seven males.

Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

There are no new or outstanding presumptive positive cases.

There are 335 active cases of COVID-19.

There have been 19 new recoveries in the Eastern Health region and one new recovery in the Western Health region. This means 630 people have recovered from the virus.

There are 10 people in hospital. Of these patients, five are in intensive care and to date, 110,665 people have been tested.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should continue to practice good infection prevention and control practices.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.

Two individuals who were missing overnight on a snowmobile were safely located on February 24, 2021, near Voisey’s Bay.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. on February 24, 2021, Natuashish RCMP received a report that the two were last seen on a snowmobile during the afternoon of February 23.

Ground Search and Rescue teams from Nain and Hopedale, as well as residents of Natuashish, were engaged and departed their respective areas to search for the missing pair.

Shortly before noon, a woman was located near a snowmobile in the area of Voisey’s Bay and a man was located a short while later in the vicinity of Voisey’s Bay on foot.

The two were transported out of the area. One individual was brought for a medical assessment, as a precautionary measure, and the other individual is reported to be in good health.

RCMP NL thanks all those who assisted in the search and transportation of the two individuals.

Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement residing in the Canadian Constituency of Canada are being advised of more delays in receiving e-gift cards from Loblaws under the COVID-19 Food Supplement Program.

Loblaws has indicated that it could take up to 15 business days to process e-gift cards from the time of purchase. Gift cards purchased on February 12 have yet to be issued by the company.

Beneficiaries who would rather receive Walmart cards instead are asked to contact Rutie Dicker at (709) 922-2942, ext. 222, or Mary Adelaide at (709) 922-2942, ext. 260.

The Nunatsiavut Government apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this uncontrollable situation.