The province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is tempering people’s expectations when it comes to the long awaited COVID-19 vaccine.

The province is currently working on a plan for when the vaccine becomes available, including working with the military to aid the rollout.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald is cautious that the pacing of the shots will be much different than what were used to.

She says it will be different from the flu vaccine where we receive a large number of doses at once. It will be a slow process over the course for several months.

Meanwhile Premier Andrew Furey is confident that physicians in the province are adequately trained to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

Furey states that we have a “robust” vaccination distribution system in the province, and how we deliver the coronavirus vaccine will build on that system.

There’s nothing specific on the COVID vaccine that would require additional training for those who administer it.

Just less than 4 weeks until Christmas.

It isn’t too late to let your children write their letters to Santa Claus.

Children can write their own letters and drop them off to their local post office.

The address to send your letter to Santa, here is his address:
Santa Claus
North Pole
H0H 0H0

Don’t miss the deadline, send your Santa letters no later than December 10, 2020 to guarantee a reply before the holidays.

Sacks of letters are arriving at the North Pole and our postal elves are busy helping Santa with his mail.

Send your mail to the North Pole in time to hear back from Santa.

If your child/children would like to get a letter from Santa Claus please include your home address in your letter and Santa will send you a letter back.

The Nain Community Freezer received some moose meat for distribution.

Carla Pamak is the Inuit Research Advisor for the Nunatsiavut Government.

She says they received 16 boxes for now and will be receiving more on a later date.

She ask that only 2 people enter the freezer at a time wearing their mask, social distance and hand sanitize.

Pamak would like to notify everyone that they are allowing people to take 2 pieces at a time every other day.

They have roast, fried, soup bones, patik bones, ribs, and only one box of sausages.

She adds that the community freezer also has chicken, char, and seal meat.

The Government of Canada recently held their Fall Economic Statement.

We spoke with MP Yvonne Jones to hear what topics were discussed.

She says topics that were discussed at the Fall Economic Statement meeting were about the: the Wage Subsidy programs, the Nunatsiavut Government Support initiative programs, Housing and Federal funding programs such as the CERB benefit, Employment Insurance benefits and other funded programs.

Stay tuned to our AtjiKangitut show today to find out more from MP Jones.

The 21 Day Sobriety Challenge has been completed and was a success in the community of Nain.

Mary Binky Andersen was the organizer for this challenge.

She says the challenge was completed with 11 participants on Monday, November 30th, 2020.

Stay tuned to Teen Rockers today to hear more from Andersen on the 21 Day Challenge.

Today (Thursday, December 3), Newfoundland and Labrador has no new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Newfoundland and Labrador has 29 active cases of COVID-19.

There has been one recovery in the Western Health region. This means 307 people have recovered. No one is in hospital due to the virus.

To date, 63,527 people have been tested.

Public Health is reminding people to strictly adhere to the orders from the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

People must remain vigilant and follow all Public Health measures to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from the spread of COVID-19.

In Alert Level 2, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should continue to practice good infection prevention and control practices.

Public Health is reminding people about the phrase People, Space, Time, and Place. People should always consider these four important reminders. They are especially important with the holidays approaching.

Public Health has prepared guidance on holiday activities. Holiday events or gatherings should be planned in accordance with Public Health guidelines.

People are reminded that COVID Alert is available for download free through the Apple or Google Play app stores. Public Health is encouraging people to download the app to help reduce the spread of the virus.

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

Craft Nights are held once again at the DHSD here in Nain.

Lisa Dicker is the Community Health Worker.

She says due to COVID-19, they have a limited space of 6 people for both men and women ages 18 and up.

Last year, Craft Nights was held on Fridays but is changed to Wednesdays starting at 6pm.

She held two Craft Nights so far and will be holding another two more before Christmas until after the holidays.

Dicker says they have materials available such as seal skins, Sherpa, beading threads, and materials for making face masks.

If anyone wanted to join in the Craft Nights, they can walk in to the DHSD and will be asked to fill out a COVID-19 form.

For more information, contact Lisa Dicker at the DHSD office at 922-2126.

The Hopedale Department of Health and Social Development will be doing their Christmas activities virtually this year.

Tabea Jararuse is the Team Leader with the Hopedale DHSD.

The prizes will include $150 gift cards from either DJ’s Gift Shops or Frank’s General Store, toy packages for children, a package for seniors and a food hamper.

The senior’s packages will consist of socks, gloves, mitts, crosswords, Christmas candies, Christmas decorations, tea, coffee sugar and more.

From Monday, December 7th-9th will be Christmas Family Carols, and the winner will be announced on December 10th.

The 1st prize will get a Food hamper, 2nd prize will get a $150 gift card and 3rd prize will get a toy package.

From December 10th to 14th will be the Christmas Memories, where families will be doing a video of telling their Christmas memories, and the winner will be announced on December 14th with the same prizes as the Family Carols.

From December 15th to 17th, Seniors 55 years and older can do their Christmas Memories; other family members can also assist with sharing the memories.

The first prize will get a food hamper, second will get $150 gift card, and third prize will get the senior’s Christmas Package.

Families can post their videos and memories on the Hopedale DHSD Group page on Facebook.

Jararuse would also like everyone to keep an eye out for more Christmas activities with the Hopedale DHSD.

The TaKuaKautik Food Bank Committee is getting ready for the next giveaway for December.

Brenda Jararuse is the Director of Culture with the Nunatsiavut Government.

She says this giveaway will be early this month as Christmas is fast approaching.

The next giveaway will be held on Thursday, December 17th, from 6pm to 8pm.

Jararuse would like to have the bags returned as soon as possible as they ran out and are needed for the next give away.

For anyone that has bags from the last giveaway, they can be dropped off anytime in the plastic bin on the steps.

Everyone should remember to come on this earlier date and help spread the word.

The second round of COVID-19 Emergency Response Programs has been announced to help beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement through Nunatsiavut Government.

Johannes Lampe is the President of NG.

He says the first round of support programs that was ongoing were suspended in September, and a review was carried with a goal of making improvements to ensure efficient and effective delivery of future support initiatives are now completed.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut today to hear Lampe give you more details about the support programs.