Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, said yesterday and urges continuous approach to COVID safety, after there were two more cases in NL.

She likened the pandemic to a “tsunami” and said travel restrictions and self-isolation alone won’t halt the spread of the illness. She urged people to continuously play their part.

This means maintaining social-distancing from others, limit your contacts to your closest family and friends.

Fitzgerald said travel brings the virus to the province, but social gatherings, failing to self-isolate and failing to follow public health guidelines are what spread the illness.

All non-essential travels should be avoided. Nova Scotia now has confirmation of community spread in that province and she recommended anyone considering travel to that province to remain vigilant.

Dr. Fitzgerald warned that special measures orders may have to be considered following complaints related to a lack space to allow social-distancing in some bars restaurants and other public indoor spaces.

This is not the time to relax public health guidelines and complaints are being investigated. She said if the complaints continue she will consider strengthening special measure orders now in place.

There are now 4 cases of COVID-19 in the community of Grand Bank.

TODAY, Thursday, November 19th, Newfoundland and Labrador has one new confirmed case of COVID-19.

The new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region over 70 years of age.

The individual is self-isolating. Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

There are currently four cases of COVID-19 in the community of Grand Bank, “all of which appear connected,” Dr. Fitzgerald assured the public during today’s unscheduled briefing.
“At this time, we have no evidence of community spread,” said Dr. Fitzgerald.

Community Spread is defined as confirmed cases where the department of health and community services cannot identify the source of infection.

The press conference is ongoing and we will keep you up to date.

The Nunatsiavut Arts & Crafts Christmas Auction on Facebook has started, and it is now on day 4.

Chantelle Evans is the Arts Program Coordinator for the Nunatsiavut Government.

The auction ends tomorrow, November 20th, 2020.

She says there are 77 artists that are showcasing their artwork on the auction page and it is for anyone who decides to join.

Evans adds it is the second auction that they’ve had so far because the first one was for the National Indigenous Peoples Day in June

Stay tune to AtjiKangitut today to hear more from Evans about the Christmas Arts & Crafts Auction on Facebook.

November 23rd to November 27th, 2020 is National Addictions Awareness Week and the Nain Department of Health and Social Development are getting the events ready.

Elsie Russell is the Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor.

She and Rutie Lampe will be partnering to do the events.

There are different activities planned and various presentations set up relating to addictions for next week.

They will also be handing out prizes such as $100 vouchers from Haynes, Frank’s and the Northern store, and hats that say, “Change Begins With me” and there will be more prizes to be won.

The daily events will also be aired on the radio next week, Lampe is now translating the events to announce the events in Inuttitut.

Russell added that they will also be holding a Hope Walk, no date yet as they are still in the planning process.

Anyone wanting to look at the National Addictions Awareness events can go on to their Facebook page, Nain DHSD Nunatsiavut. You can also call Russell at 922-2183, or Lampe at 922-2126 to register for the Hope Walk.

Today, Nunavut has a total of 70 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. An additional eight new cases have been identified in Arviat, bringing the community’s number of positive cases to 54. An additional two new cases have been confirmed in Rankin Inlet, bringing the community’s number of positive cases to six. All individuals are in isolation and doing well.

Whale Cove remains at eight positive cases and Sanikiluaq remains at two positive cases.

As of November 17, 103 tests have been done in Sanikiluaq with negative results. In Rankin Inlet, 60 tests have come back negative. Arviat testing has yielded 114 negative tests. Testing in Whale Cove is ongoing.

You can expect an increase in fuel prices tomorrow.

George Murphy of the Consumer Group for Fair Gas Prices expects to see gas go up by close to two cents a litre, and heating and stove oils by over two cents.

Diesel will also go up by two cents he predicts.

Today, Wednesday, November 18, 2020 Newfoundland and Labrador has two new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The first new confirmed case is a female in the Eastern Health region over 70 years of age. The individual, a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, is a close contact of the first case announced yesterday, Tuesday, November 17.

The individual is self-isolating. Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

The second new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 40-49 years of age. The case is travel-related. The individual, a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, returned to the province from work in Alberta.

The individual self-isolated as per the protocol for rotational workers. Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

The Department of Health and Community Services is providing an update on the source of the infection for yesterday’s case. The source of the infection is travel-related. The case from yesterday is a close contact of the second case announced today. They are members of the same household.

The province has nine active cases. One person is in hospital due to the virus. Two hundred and ninety-four people have recovered.

To date, 57,510 people have been tested.

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

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

Torngat Secretariat had to make more adjustments on their research programs after they too had to close their offices due to COVID-19 back in April or May.

Jamie Snook is the Executive Director for Torngat Secretariat.

He says they have been implementing their research projects that include the snow crab survey they did in August.

Other research projects are with Torngat Wildlife and Plants, the Torngat Mountains Caribou Survey, including limits to hunt moose and polar bears.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut today to hear Snook give you more details on these research projects.

Today (Tuesday, November 17), Newfoundland and Labrador has two new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The first new confirmed case is a female in the Eastern Health region between 50-59 years of age. The individual is a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The source of the infection is under investigation by Public Health. An update on this case will be provided as more information becomes more available.

The individual is self-isolating. Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

The second new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 40-49 years of age.

The case is travel-related. The individual, a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, returned to the province from work in Ontario.

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

The province has nine active cases of COVID-19. One person is in hospital due to the virus. Two hundred and ninety-two people have recovered.

To date, 57,151 people have been tested.

The Youth Centre in Nain is on the verge of starting Christmas Activities.

Crystal Allen-Webb is the Nain Youth Outreach Worker.

These activities are for people ages 13 to 30 years of age, starting from 3pm to 4:30pm.

Today, starting this afternoon, they will be doing a Graffiti Wall.

This Thursday, November 19th, they will hold a Christmas painting night from 6-8pm with 10 spots available.

Anyone can also go down to get help with applications, resumes, cover letters and more or to just hangout to have a snack, watch a movie and so on.

The Frontier College Students, Julia Dicker and Ethan Angnatok also go to the youth centre every Friday to do some activities as well.

Allen-Webb would also like to add that if there is anyone that is willing to have activity ideas, be sure to bring up the suggestions to the youth outreach worker.