Non-medical masks will be mandatory for people in indoor public spaces in Newfoundland and Labrador, starting Aug.24.

The new rule applies to people aged five and older.

The special order means people will have to wear masks in stores, places of worship and other spaces.

Non-medical face masks help protect against the spread of COVID-19, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says in a video on the provincial government’s website Monday, showing kids how to safely put on their masks.

Fitzgerald made the announcement Monday, in addition to releasing details for the return-to-school plan for the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District.

Masks will have to be worn by people in public indoor places, and well as on school buses. The head of a group that represents several private school bus operators had previously said non-medical masks should be mandatory on buses when kids climb on board in September.

The wearing of masks will not be mandatory in classrooms when students return in the fall; instead, it will be a personal choice for students and their parents or guardians.

However, masks will be required in schools’ communal areas of a school — such as hallways, washrooms and entrances — for high school students and staff, and for junior high school students.

Previously, Fitzgerald and public health officials had encouraged people to wear masks in public spaces, as well as to practice physical distancing, but they were not mandatory until Monday’s announcement.

Story courtesy of CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.

There have been many questions and concerns on going back to school next month.

The OK radio spoke with Dean Ingram who is the President of Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association (NLTA) late last Friday afternoon.

He said there was no concrete plan in place at the time, and whatever plan is put in place must be one that respects the health and safety for all concerned.

Ingram says all students regardless of where they live have access to necessary resources, materials and supports to ensure that they are still able to access and receive the quality education that they all deserve.

Click here to hear Ingram give few more details on the back-to-school issue.

Yesterday, Thursday, August 13th, Newfoundland and Labrador has no new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The province continues to have two active cases.

263 people have recovered from the virus.

To date, 27,911 people have been tested.

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

Daily preventative actions can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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

Teachers hope to see an enhanced level of testing for those who enter the school system come next month.

Health Officials in Alberta have recommended that teachers be tested before going back to school, but to date, there have been no indication from government in Newfoundland and Labrador if they will take that same approach.

This province has only two active cases of COVID-19, but people expect to see a second wave.

Dean Ingram, president of Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association (NLTA) says they have many questions, surrounding virtually every aspect of school life such as masks, social distancing, bussing and testing.

The NLTA feels that it’s critically important that there be rapid access testing and rapid results instead of lengthy quarantining if the system is to continue functioning.

Meanwhile, Ingram says teachers are seeing greater interest in homeschooling these days, something which he attributes to lack of confidence in government’s K-Grade 12 Education Re-Entry Plan.

Courtesy VOCM news.

Students, parents, and teachers who have all been waiting for a detailed back-to-school plan will have to wait even longer, after a seemingly last-minute instruction from the provincial government that additional public health details will impact or change the plan.

That’s according to a letter that Tony Stack, CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (NLESD), sent Wednesday evening to principals and assistant principals.

“The provincial government advised us today that there is further important updated medical health advice that potentially will have implications for our plan,” writes Stack in the letter, a copy of which has been obtained by CBC News.

“We have agreed to the government’s request to reschedule the release to early next week to ensure the plan includes the most recent information available to us.”

For most students in the public school system, classes are scheduled to start Sept. 9.

Teachers have been ordered back to work several days earlier for Sept. 2.

Stack said he “sincerely regrets this delay” when it comes to the plan, noting “everyone in our school communities are anxiously awaiting.”

Perhaps the biggest issue up in the air is masks, and whether, when and where students, teachers and other staff will be required to wear them.

Story courtesy of CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.

Today is the last day to register your team for the 15th Annual George Lane Memorial Dart Tournament in Hopedale.

Jill Nitsman is one of the coordinators for the tournament.

She says the tournament will be held from August 14th-17th.

The fee is $80 per team, $20 per player with teams that must consist of four players; two males and two females.

The tournament will be held at the Nanuk Centre.

The 1st place prize will be $2,000, 2nd place $1000, and 3rd place $500.

There will also be trophies for various categories.

Nitsman says due to the pandemic, they can only allow 16 players at a time into the Nanuk centre.

The Amaguk will be serving dinner and supper with delivery and menus will be available to view at the Nanuk Center.

To register your teams, you can contact Jill Nitsman by calling 709-933-3316 or email her at nitsmanjill@yahoo.ca.

ITK welcomes the August 12th announcement by the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, of an additional $305M to support Indigenous community and regional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federal funds will be distributed through a combination of allocations directly to First Nations, Inuit and Métis, and through needs-based applications.

ITK will be seeking further clarity on this in the coming days.

In March 2020, during the initial federal commitment to the COVID-19 Indigenous Community Support Fund, $45M was allocated directly to Inuit land claims regions across Canada.

Each regional organization developed its own schedule of investments, which included funding for community harvests, supports for Elders, measures to provide daily water and sewer deliveries, mental health supports, funding for food banks and community distribution of cleaning supplies, among other areas.

Funds provided to each land claims region were also used to support their respective beneficiaries throughout Canada, including outside their land claims regions.

The Labrador Friendship Centre recently received funds from the Provincial and Federal Governments.

Jennifer Hefler-Elson is the Executive Director.

She says a total of $1.2 million will be used to rebuild the Aboriginal Family Center building on 38 Grenfell Street in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Elson says they are happy for the new centre, where it will be safer and more modern.

Click here to find out more from Hefler-Elson.

The OK Radio contacted the Department of Health and Social Development offices in Nain and Rigolet.

We spoke with Julie Sheppard who is the Community Health Worker for Rigolet DHSD.

She says that most programs are not going ahead due to the pandemic but there are Inuktitut classes every Tuesday from 7:30pm to 8:30pm.

There is also a personal flotation device load out program for all ages.

Lisa Dicker is the Community Health Worker with the Nain DHSD.

She holds Craft Nights every Wednesdays from 6-8pm at the DHSD Building.

Dicker also does taste tests at least once a week.

For seniors ages 65 years and older, they holds a light lunch at the end of each month.

Crystal Allen-Webb is the Youth Outreach Worker with the Nain DHSD.

She says that there are waivers to be signed in order to attend these outdoor events.

Friday, the Literacy instructors will be making breakfast from 8:30am to 11:30am followed by swimming up to the new damn for ages 16 to 30 years.

On August 17th, there will be Papier-mâché making starting at 1pm.

On August 18th, people in the Literacy Activities will be making some burgers at the Youth Centre.

On August 19 and 20, there will be suits available for youth ages 16 years to 30 years along with the Summer Student, Starr Webb who will be doing some Kayaking with Noah Nochasak.

On August 21st, youth will be doing a scavenger hunt.

We will have further details on more activities once it comes available.

The char and scallop fishery are going well in Nain.

Deidi Kohlmeister is the Office Supervisor at the Nain fish plant.

She says a total of 28,205 pounds of char have been landed to now.

There are 5 licensed commercial char fishermen.

Kohlmeister says a total of 26,445 pounds of green scallops and 885 pounds of meats have been landed. The scallop boat, Torngat 1 has a 3 men crew.

She says there are 32 plant workers and there are 3 shucking crew.

In Makkovik, the snow crab fishery closed yesterday.

Angel Chaulk is the Office assistant at the fish plant.

She says there two snow crabs are off loading their last catches today.

Last week, a total of 218,733 pounds of snow crab was landed.

Chaulk says one turbot is gone out fishing but she hasn’t landed any turbot yet.

There are 39 plant workers and 3 people work night shifts.