Yesterday, Wednesday, July 1, Newfoundland and Labrador had no new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The province continues to have no active cases.

258 people have recovered from the virus.

To date, 17,984 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.

The Nain Recreation was very busy yesterday as they were holding their annual Canada Day celebrations.

Gwen Dyson is the After School Program Supervisor.

She says the Canada Day celebrations started off with a community takeout breakfast at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Center that started at 8am until 9:30am.

Then a family scavenger hunt took place from 11am until 12 noon.

Winners from the family scavenger hunt were as follows:
1st place family winners were: Kerri Kolmeister and family who won $100, 2nd place winners went to Susan Maggo and family who won $75, and 3rd place winners went to Michael Dyson and family who won $50.

The photo contest is still ongoing, and the judging will only take place this Saturday, July 4, for those who would like to take part in the photo contest, you still have a chance to submit their photos, deadline is today.

Dyson says at 1pm they began the community parade at the Nain airstrip and ended by the JS Community Center.

There were three submissions for the best decorated cake contest this year; best decorated cake went to Serena Blake, she won herself $100, 2nd place winner went to Pauline Dicker, she won $75 for her cake, and 3rd place winner went to Nancy Ikkusek who won herself $25.

For the Best decorated house contest, the winner was Rutie Dicker who won a $250 grocery hamper from Frank’s; and best decorated vehicle went to Susan Maggo; she won $50.

And for the 420 foot shift ATV Honda draw, the Recreation did a live stream at 7pm, and the lucky winner is Vanessa Gauntlett from Hopedale, congratulations Vanessa!

Dyson says because of the poor weather conditions yesterday, they had to put off the Peddle boat, the softball tournament, and the fireworks until the next fine day, so right now, we are waiting to hear back from the Recreation Dept. if they will go ahead today and tonight.

Fireworks were also put off until the next fine day.

The Labrador Aboriginal Training Partnership is now accepting applications for funding for clients who would like to start training in the fall of 2020.

We spoke with Keith Jacque who is the Executive Director for LATP.

He says right now they have two Nunatsiavut Career Counselors on the north coast.

Janelle Barbour is back into work in her office in Nain, and Ocean Lane is based in Makkovik.

Click here to find out more details about what LATP is offering.

The Canada Day events started in Nain yesterday, June 29th, 2020.

Today, Tuesday, June 30th, there will be a Giant Radio Bingo starting at 7pm with $100 cards, selling from 9am to 6pm at the Nain Husky Centre.

50/50 tickets will also be sold at $1.00 each.

For Canada Day tomorrow, a Community Take Out Breakfast (pick up only) will be from 8-9:30am at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Centre.

From 10:30am to 3pm will be Fishing contest with a prize awarded for the heaviest and most fish.

A Canada Day Family Photo Scavenger Hunt will be from 11am to 12pm with devices needed.

And for the afternoon, starting at 1pm, there will be a vehicle parade starting at the airstrip, followed by judging for the best decorations and the best Canada Day cake decorating contest.

There will also be boat rentals for $from 1:30 to 5pm at the Old Dam.

From 2:30 to 5:30pm, there will be a softball tournament followed by the 4th Annual Pow’s Canada Day Texas Hold ‘Em tournament.

Participants must wear a mask and no spectators permitted at the poker tournament.

And to end off the big day, fireworks will be held by the ball field at 11:30pm.

For more information, you can contact the Recreation Director, Lisa Ivany at 922-2691.

Postville and Makkovik will be celebrating Canada Day tomorrow.

Everyone will be meeting at the Kaipokok Community Centre at 1pm and parade will start at 1:30.

The prize draw will take place after the parade, meeting at the Community Centre for the decorated vehicle, ATV, bicycle, stroller/wagon, and Canada Day Attire.

Everyone will gain entries for each category that they qualify in.

The deadline for the best decorated window contest will be at 12:30 noon and must be at least 3 entries for a prize to be awarded.

Please submit your pictures to the Postville Recreation digitally or call 479-9775 to request for them to take a picture of your window.

The fireworks will be at 10:30pm.

The Canada Day events in Makkovik this year will be celebrated virtually.

They will be having a week long fishing contest, running from today, June 30th to Friday, July 3rd.

There will be two categories; the longest fish and the heaviest fish.

You are also asked to post your pictures for proof of your catch.

They would like to see your vehicles, bicycles, strollers, and even yourself decorated for tomorrow, July 1st.

Also tomorrow, they will be having a Canada Day themed Scavenger Hunt and the list of items will be posted that morning.

We hope everyone enjoys their day, we are sorry to inform that at this time, there will be no fireworks, and please remember to keep social distancing.

The Canada Day events started in Hopedale today, June 30th, 2020.

Giant Radio Bingo cards will be selling for $30 and Early birds selling for $5 at the Nanuk Centre and Fire Hall, and Bingo will be held tomorrow at 7pm.

There is also Family kushie today and will be ending at 3:30pm.

Tomorrow, Canada Day, Wednesday, July 1st, all best decorations will be held from 10am to 1:30 pm at the Nanuk Centre.

Then from 1-6pm, there will be a Family Riddle Scavenger Hunt.

There will also be a Canada Day parade starting at the Nanuk Centre at 2pm.

Weather permitting, the fishing contest will be held on Saturday, July 4th with the deadline being on July 3rd, and weighing time will be at 8pm.

There will also be a Fishing Scavenger Hunt on the 4th.

The items for the scavenger hunt are to be of the ocean or near the community.

You will be asked to find 10 items, and if all is not found, your name will be picked out in a draw.

Weather permitting; the Hopedale Fire Department will be holding the Annual Canada Day fireworks across from the Assembly Building after sunset between 10 and 10:30pm.

The Nunatsiavut Government wishes to advise that non-essential travel into the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area from outside Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to be discouraged, despite the fact that travel restrictions will be lifted in all Atlantic Canadian provinces come July 3.

“While it is promising to see the formation of the so-called ‘Atlantic bubble’, we still have some concerns with the movement of people into our communities as we continue to navigate our way through this COVID-19 pandemic,” says First Minister Tyler Edmunds.

While non-essential travel is being discouraged to Labrador Inuit communities, those from the Maritimes will no longer be asked to self-isolate for 14 days prior entering the region. However, all travelers are still being asked to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and to continue to adhere to public health protocols around physical distancing, hygiene and the use of masks, etc.

On June 3, the Nunatsiavut Government gave notice that it would no longer be requesting people to not travel between Labrador Inuit communities unless they have been directed to self-isolate or to self-monitor for symptoms COVID-19. The position on non-essential travel from anywhere within the province was relaxed on June 8.

Doctors warn urgent action needed to address Healthcare backlogs.

The Minister of Health is not about to change course regarding the reopening of medical services, but doctors openly disagree with his approach and call the situation critical.

Doctors told news conference yesterday that people who are priority three are not even being looked at right now.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association paints a picture which shows the system operating at about 40 -50 percent capacity.

Until recently, physicians were being told by a panel of non-surgeons which patients get in for surgery.

St. John’s Gastroenterology, Dr. Jerry McGrath says even if the system goes to 75 or 85 percent capacity next week, the wait list for his field would continue to grow.

Urologist/oncologist Dr. Paul Johnston of St. John’s said we should not be saving our bullets while we wait for a second wave of COVID-19. He feels the urgent need is now.

He says you’re going to see people potentially lose several years of life, perhaps five years or so down the road. As a cancer surgeon, he says it’s not an easy story to write, and that he is worried.

New details on Atlantic Bubble, Alert Level 2 guidance expected a live briefing.

Just days before the so called Atlantic Bubble takes effect, Newfoundland and Labrador is expected to lay out details of what the Province can expect as it rolls into a second month without a new case of COVID-19.

The first live briefing in almost a week is scheduled to start 2pm.

On Monday, NL marked 32 straight days without a new case. The province has been free of COVID altogether that is since June 18.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Janice Fitzgerald has said there are epidemiological grounds to support the Atlantic bubble because the 4 Atlantic Provinces between them have not recorded a new case in some time. New Brunswick is the only province with any active cases.

Under the Atlantic bubble, residents of the 4 Atlantic Provinces will be able to cross provincial boundaries without having to self isolate for 14 days, as residents of other provinces will still be required to do.

Last week, Premier Dwight Ball said that if the Atlantic bubble works— namely, if there is no spike of new cases, the bubble could be expanded to other provinces.

Some businesses are opening up in the town of Makkovik.

Barry Andersen is the AngajukKâk of the Inuit Community Government.

He says they recently finished up their annual spring cleanup.

The fish plant is under cleanup, there is no repairs happening on the dock, and the repair crew has not yet arrived.

Click here to hear Andersen give you more details.