The Nain Community Freezer will be taking the following measures to ensure residents have access to traditional wild food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The Community Freezer is closed to the public at this time.
• We will be starting a delivery system this week. If you would like to receive meat from the Community Freezer, please call 922-2380 on Monday or Tuesday morning (8:30-12:00). Staff will take your name and address to have meat delivered to your house on Thursday’s (weather permitting, Friday as a backup day).
• Staff will drop off meat on your doorstep during the day and we ask that someone be home to receive it. Staff will knock and wait a safe distance away to ensure someone picks up the meat.
• If there are harvesters that would like to hunt for the Community Freezer please call 922-2380 on Monday or Tuesday morning or contact Research Center staff (Liz Pijogge, Clara Pamak, Rodd Laing) to arrange a time to drop off meat.

The health and well-being of the community is our top priority, and we will do out best to make sue community members have access to wild food. We would like to thank you for your patience during this time.

The Department of Health and Social Development in Nunatsiavut will have various online mental wellness campaigns within the next two weeks.

Rutie Lampe is one of the Mental Health and Addictions Workers in Nain.

Lampe says that within the next two weeks they will be holding virtual events, and they would also like to hear some of your ideas.

She adds that there are many mental health programs and services that are available throughout the province.

We will be speaking with Rutie Lampe later in the AtjiKangitut Program later to find out more about the resources that are available.

TODAY, Monday, February 15th, Newfoundland and Labrador has 7 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

In the Eastern Health region:
• 1 under 20 years of age
• 1 between 40-49 years of age
• 2 between 60-69 years of age
• 2 over the age of 70

In the Western Health region:
• 1 between 5-59 years of age
The case is travel-related.

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

There are 302 active cases of COVID-19.

The regional breakdown of the 302 active cases is as follows:
• Eastern Health-295
• Central Health-4
• Labrador-Grenfell Health-0
• Western Health-6

There have been 5 new recoveries since yesterday. This means 399 people have recovered from the virus.

There is one person in the hospital due to COVID-19.

To date, 92,874 people have been tested.

With the recent break of more COVID-19 cases in NL, there are new protocols to follow and more restrictions in place.

On todays AtjiKangitut show we will speak with Nunatsiavut Government President, Johannes Lampe.

Stay tuned this will live on CKOK radio at 2:30 pm.

It was a Monday morning 39 years ago today that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians awoke to the devastating news that the Ocean Ranger Oil Rig had sunk, with a loss of 84 crew members.

It happened on a vicious Valentine’s Day winter storm off the east coast of the Island.

A rogue wave, during heavy seas struck the semi-submersible mobile drilling rig, breaking a porthole window and resulting in an inundation of water into the ballast control room, causing the rig to list.

A Mayday was sent just after midnight on the 15th, but rescue was hampered by the severe weather.

The last communication from the rig was around 1:30 am, indicating the crew were going into lifeboats. The rig sank shortly after 3 am.

Each year a Memorial Service is held at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church, organized by Gonzaga High School where many of the victims went to school.

The service has been cancelled for this year because of the surging numbers of COVID-19. Instead a pre-recorded memorial will be posted on-line.

Courtesy VOCM

Public Health staff from the Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development will continue to distribute the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible residents within the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area, 18 years of age and older, even though the Province is currently at its highest COVID-19 alert level 5.

“We have consulted with regional health and it has been agreed that it is critical that vaccinations continue,” says Nunatsiavut’s Minister of Health and Social Development, Gerald Asivak. “Second doses of the vaccine have already been administered in some communities, and some people are still getting their first dose. It’s imperative that we follow through with our plans to inoculate as many residents as possible throughout Nunatsiavut, as failing to do so could pose potential risks if COVID-19 spreads to our communities.”

The second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has already been administered in Makkovik. Public Health staff are expected to complete rolling out the vaccine in Nain today.

Below is the tentative schedule for administering the vaccine over the next three days:
•Today, February 15- Postville and Hopedale
•Tomorrow, February 16- Hopedale

The Moderna vaccine requires two doses to be effective. The first dose was administered in all five Labrador Inuit communities the week of January 11. Public Health staff will arrange times for eligible individuals to receive the second dose. Those who have yet to receive the vaccine, and wish to do so, are asked to contact the Public Health Nurse in their respective communities. All public health protocols will be strictly followed during the distribution of the vaccine.

The Nunatsiavut Government continues to work with all relevant authorities to ensure the vaccine is administered as quickly as possible in a safe and efficient manner.

The health and safety of Labrador-Grenfell Health patients and staff continues to be our priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the recent announcement by the Provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health to move to COVID-19 Alert Level 5, Labrador-Grenfell Health is reducing select services at all its facilities for the next 14 days, effective today (Monday, February 15, 2021)

The following services will continue:
•Urgent/emergent procedures/surgeries.
•Please note that patients who have traveled for procedures/surgeries will be accommodated.
•All telehealth services.
•All cancer services.
•In-center rental dialysis
•Urgent medical imaging (i.e X-ray) and Laboratory services (i.e blood collection).
•Urgent ambulatory care.
•Urgent therapeutic services.
•All mental health and addictions services.
•Inpatient rehabilitation and urgent outpatient services.
•Well baby clinics up to 18 months.
•Postnatal home visiting and support will continue either virtually or in person.
•Community based services for priority services based on client need (ex: Home Nursing Services, Emergency Home Support and Special Assistance Program Public Health Nursing).
•Select in-person primary care appointments at outpatient departments, health centers and community clinics.

Labrador-Grenfell Health will continue with alternate methods for delivering care such as telephone consult or virtual care in lieu of in-person consultations when appropriate.

Labrador-Grenfell Health will inform individuals about their appointment status. If you have questions about your scheduled appointment, please call the respective department.
Labrador-Grenfell Health is thanking the public for their patience and cooperation during this time. All Newfoundlanders and Labradorians must work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Today, Friday, February 12th, Newfoundland and Labrador has 50 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Contact tracing by public health officials is underway.

Everyone considered a close contact will be advised to quarantine.

The 50 new confirmed cases are as follows:

· 20 under 20 years of age
· 4 between 20-39 years of age
· 16 between 40-49 years of age
· 3 between 50-59 years of age
· 2 between 60-69 years of age
· 2 over 70 years of age

There are 260 active cases.
The regional breakdown of the total cases is as follows:
Eastern Health – 252
Central Health – 3
Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
Western Health – 5

There have been no new recoveries since yesterday meaning 393 people have recovered from the virus.

There is no one in hospital and to date, 87,447 people have been tested.

The VALE Voisey’s Bay Mining Site has no cases of COVID-19 at any of the sites in NFLD and Labrador, however following the recent public advisories from the Government of NFLD and Labrador, and out of an abundance of caution, they will be making immediate changes and adding to their preventive measures and controls in Voisey’s Bay.

As a precautionary measure, to protect and not only our employees at the Voisey’s Bay site, but to help protect the communities where many of our employees and their families live, in Nunatsiavut and Innu communities, we have taken business decisions to temporarily hold all inbound flights to Voisey’s Bay until Monday, February 15th, outbound flights will be on hold for Friday, February 12, with an updated to be provided ASAP.

Like all the decisions to date during the pandemic, this one is based on our value of Life Matters Most. Operations and project work on the Voisey’s Bay Mine Expansion project will continue as normal, with the staff that are currently on site.

We are working with our medical team and leadership to determine a path forward and to review our rosters and rotational schedules. As you can appreciate, this change is necessary due to the recent cluster that is still unfolding in our province, in particular in the St. Johns Metro area.

We know this is difficult news for some and ask for your patience and support as we continue to work through the processes of the current event in our province. We are committed to continuing to be open and transparent with you as we work on our plan forward and we will be closely monitoring the situation over the next few days and will continue to keep you informed. In the meantime, if you have any questions on your personal situation, please reach out to your manager.

During this period, we ask you to please continue to practice active genuine care for each other, stay kind and always be respectful. Stay focused on safety, and do not let these events put you or your colleagues at risk. Theses are stressful times for everybody and we encourage you to reach out to our Employee Assistance Program if you would like to talk to a professional. They are available 24/7 by calling 1-844-880-9142. If you have any questions please reach out to your manager or email VNL_info@vale.com.

The Department of Health and Community Services has released a list of local businesses in their ongoing investigation into the latest outbreak in Eastern Newfoundland.

Public Health is asking anyone who visited or worked at any of the following locations at the specified dates and times to arrange for testing.

• Jungle Jim’s in St. John’s, 657 Topsail Road, on Friday, February 5, 2021 from 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
• Dairy Queen in Paradise, 1366 Topsail Road, on Friday, February 5 from 12 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
• McDonald’s in Paradise, 1278 Topsail Road, on Saturday, February 6 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Wendy’s in Mount Pearl, 70 Old Placentia Road, on Thursday, February 4 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• A&W in Mount Pearl, 1 Cunard Place, on Thursday, February 4 from 4 p.m. – midnight and Sunday, February 7 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Tim Hortons in St. John’s, 283 Portugal Cove Road, on Saturday, February 6 from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Tim Hortons in Conception Bay South, 911 Conception Bay Highway, on Saturday, February 6 from 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Starbucks in Paradise, 1641 Topsail Road, on Friday, February 5 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Burger King in Paradise, 1641 Topsail Road, on Friday, February 5 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Plaza Bowl in St. John’s, 50 Ropewalk Lane, on Saturday, February 6 from 10:30 p.m. – close
• Leon’s in St. John’s, 60 Elizabeth Avenue, on Friday, February 5 and Saturday, February 6
• Canadian Tire in St. John’s, 50 Kelsey Drive, Sunday, February 7
• Rock Athletic in Mount Pearl, 236 Park Avenue, Tuesday, February 2 from 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Rec Room, Avalon Mall, Saturday, February 6 from 7:30 p.m. – midnight
• McDonald’s in Carbonear, 229 Columbus Drive, Friday, February 5 from 5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

You can arrange for testing by filling out the self-assessment and referral tool on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s COVID-19 website at this link, or by calling 811.
Anyone who gets tested must self-isolate until they receive a negative test.