Non-essential travel won’t be expanded for the Christmas and Holiday season, said Chief Medical Officer for Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald yesterday.

Some families have been eagerly waiting for news for weeks, as Fitzgerald and the public health team considered the options and risks of allowing non-essential travelers outside the Atlantic Bubble into the province.

With second waves of COVID-19 hitting other provinces and parts of the world, it’s the wrong time to open NL’s border, as its been the closure that has helped prevention of the virus.

“It would be the wrong decision right now for us to open up non-essential travel as of jurisdictions tighten their restrictions in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19, said Fitzgerald.

“We know many families have been separated for 7 months now, and we have seen the toll the separation is having on the mental health of many of our residents. We encourage everyone that need support to reach out for help.

When asked if people who are willing to isolate for 14 days upon arrival could be allowed in, Fitzgerald said, the issue is not about a single person, but about a lot of people entering the province, and case numbers in other provinces are much higher than when the province first issued its travel restrictions orders in May.

This means students who are taking in-person classes at schools outside the Atlantic Bubble will remain locked out for Christmas and recognizes that situation is difficult, but it has been a difficult year.

The construction work on the new water line replacement in Nain is completed now until spring as the ground is now frozen over.

We spoke with Joe Dicker our AngajukKâk for the Nain Inuit Community Government.

He says they will start the second construction phase on the new system spring time either in the middle of May or late May.

AngajukKâk Dicker would like to also inform residents to stay off Trousers Lake as it is our main water supply and because the 4th pond is yet not froze over.

Stay tuned to our AtjiKangitut show today to find out more from AngajukKâk Dicker.

The price of fuel is trending upward this week with increases across the board.

The cost of gasoline and diesel is up by about 2.3 and 2.7 respectively.

Furnace oil is up by over 2.32 cents per litre while stove oil has seen a 1.98 cent increase.

Propane remains stable with a half-cent increase per litre.

Today (Friday, November 13), Newfoundland and Labrador has one new confirmed case of COVID-19.

The one new confirmed case is a male in the Central Health region between 20-39 years of age.

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

The individual has been self-isolating since arrival.

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

The province has six active cases. Two hundred and eighty-nine people have recovered from the virus.

To date, 56,186 people have been tested.

The holiday season is quickly approaching. Public Health has prepared guidance on holiday activities. It is important for any holiday event or gathering to be planned in accordance with Public Health guidelines.

Public Health is reminding people about the phrase People, Space, Time, and Place. People should always consider these four important reminders as they prepare for the holidays.

In Alert Level 2, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should continue to practice good infection prevention and control practices. Daily preventative actions can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19. People are encouraged to continue following proven Public Health measures to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from COVID-19.

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.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association (NLTA) is troubled with the English School District decision to expand access to schools for what they call non-essential activities.

More indoor school sports will be reintroduced as of next week after a gradual reintroduction of indoor activates was announced last month.

While some believe the approach is too cautious, the Teachers Association disagrees.

President Dean Ingram says their members are already under increased stress due to added duties and responsibilities arising from COVID-19.

He says it seems contradictory and counter-productive to increase non-essential access to school buildings and cohort mixing at the same time that Public Health Officials have implemented more stringent screening.

Every year, the annual Christmas tree lighting is a huge community celebration that brings the whole community together.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there won’t be an annual tree lighting done this year.

We spoke with Carla Pamak who is the Chairperson for Ullapitsaijet Steering Committee.

She says the Christmas tree is lit on the First Advent Sunday, because it is the start of the Christmas season.

Pamak adds that Dr. Janice Fitzgerald announced that there will be no big gatherings and no tree lighting ceremonies this year due to COVID-19.

She says it will remain lit until Nalujuit Night on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021.

As previous years the annual tree lighting ceremony was a huge event, other years the community would come together and enjoy a hot beverage of hot chocolate and timbits, and the Nain brass band would perform along with carolers.

Widespread shut downs are coming as Manitoba’s premier and top doctor order the entire province into the red, or critical, level of the provincial pandemic response plan.

Among the “short sharp restrictions” is a ban on social gatherings of any kinds starting Thursday, that could last to December, said Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin. Social contact must be reduced to members to your household only.

“We are truly at a crossroads in our fight against this pandemic” said Roussin in last Tuesday mornings announcement with Premier Brian Pallister.

Non essential retail stores, gyms, movie theaters, salons and churches will close. All recreational facilities, sports activities will be shut down, said Roussin, and non essential travel is discouraged.

Schools and child-care centres will remain open because, despite hundreds of cases.

Ottawa is promising to hook up more rural and remote areas of the country with high-speed internet from additional funding announced this week.

In Atlantic Canada, the Universal Broadband Fund will provide millions of dollars for towns, companies and Co-ops through the Atlantic Opportunities Agency.

There’s also a so called rapid response stream of cash to get projects going right away, given the importance and urgency of online connectivity in the midst of the global pandemic.

Federal economic development Minister Melanie Joly says she realizes the application process can seem daunting.

She says ACOA can provide simple one-stop assistance to avoid the red-tape maze that people sometimes experience when dealing with the Federal Government.

Joly says a total of $150 million is available for each proposal, adding Ottawa will also be working with big telecom companies to ensure their participation in getting the infrastructure in place in the more rural and remote areas in the province.

She says 98% of will be connected to high-speed by 2026, and 100% by 2030.

The deadline for applications for funding is next year in November.

The Government of Canada invests in Arctic Sealift and re-supply operations and marks the fourth anniversary of the Oceans protection plan.

Communities in Canadas Arctic rely on marine sealift and re-apply services for food and important goods.

Shipping in the Arctic can be challenging, given Northern communities are remote and the sealift and resupply season is short.

This is why the Government of Canada, through the Oceans protection plan is making an arctic re-supply operations faster, safer and more efficient for remote northern communities.

Today, marking the fourth anniversary of the ocean’s protection plan the minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau announced $64.9 Million in funding towards 15 projects that will improve sealift and re-supply services in the north.

Projects will begin in Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut.

Three proposals were received for the North coast in Nunatsiavut.

In Nunatsiavut three building new structures to promote safe freight storage in three communities, these communities are Nain, Rigolet and Postville.

Stay tuned to our AtjiKangitut show to find out more details about these new facilities for the North Coast with MP Yvonne Jones.

Today, Thursday, November 12, Newfoundland and Labrador has no new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Two hundred and eighty-seven people have recovered from the virus. To date, 55,874 people have been tested.

NO Change to N.L.’s Travel Ban for the Christmas holidays, Dr. Fitzgerald announced this afternoon.

TODAY, at the COVID-19 briefing, Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Haggie discussed Christmas travel.

Early testing will not be an available for travelers incoming from outside of the Atlantic Bubble.

This does NOT apply to Rotational Workers who are still permitted to access the early testing program on the 5th-7th day.

Travelers from outside the Atlantic Bubble must self-isolate for 14 days.

Dr. Fitzgerald is reminding residents to maintain limited contact and that your household should only have 20 close contacts throughout the holiday season.

She also suggested implementing such measures as designating only one person to serve food at gatherings.

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