Repairing homes has slowly started on the north coast communities.

William Lucy is the Coordinator for Torngat Regional Housing Association (TRHA).

He says the repairs are started only where people have moved out of their homes in Nain, Hopedale and Rigolet.

Lucy says there’s still some electricity to be installed in the new homes in Hopedale, where Hydro has to come in and do the work.

Click here to hear Lucy give you more details n the repairs on the homes.

OK Radio will have an update once it becomes available.

Yesterday, Wednesday, June 17th, Newfoundland and Labrador has NO new confirmed case of COVID-19.

The TOTAL NUMBER of confirmed cases in the province is now 261.

There is ONE remaining confirmed active case in the province.

The regional breakdown of the 261 cases is as follows:
• Eastern Health – 243
• Central Health – 8
• Labrador-Grenfell Health – 6
• Western Health – 4

52% of cases are female and 48% are male.

By age, there are 22 people 19 years old and under, 38 between 20 and 39, 39 between 40 and 49, 58 between 50 and 59, 57 between 60 and 69, and 47 who are 70 years old and above.

• 257 people have now recovered.

• There have been three (3) deaths from COVID-19.

To date, 15,143 people have been tested.

The Nain Inuit Community Government would like to remind residents that the speed limit within Town limits is 25km per hour.

There is to be no joy riding between 10:30pm to 7:30am, also reckless driving such as laddering on public roads is absolutely prohibited.

Due to damage of the habitat and harm to small fish – water gliding is prohibited on the old dam – “Sand Bridge” and Bra pond.

For any of these instances observed please call RCMP.

Please respect the safety of the residents of your community.

The province moves into Alert Level Two one week from today, June 25, meaning some restrictions are being lifted and changes being made.

Another wave of businesses and services will reopen, including:

• Gym and fitness facilities, indoor pools and playgrounds.
• Bars and lounges, bingo halls and cinemas are included in the “indoor entertainment” category for level two, but with reduced occupancy.
• Places of worship.
• Some health care services provided by the regional health authorities.

The provincial government says the re-opening of performance spaces will be determined at a later date.

In Alert Level Two, the province can expect to see an increase in the size of gatherings.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says the maximum number of people allowed will increase from 20 people to 50.

She says it’s not a party of 50 in your house, but for ceremonies and things like that where you would have adequate physical distancing and be outside.

Fitzgerald did not expand household bubbles. She prefers that people try to keep their close personal contacts at a minimum.

The guidelines are available on the provincial government’s website.

Meanwhile, Premier Dwight Ball says the live updates will now take place just once a week – on Wednesdays.

He says on the days without the briefings, the provincial government will issue a news release at 2 p.m.

The price of gas is down this week while all other fuels have slightly increased.

Gas has decreased 1.9 cents per litre.

Diesel on the island will increase 1.6 cents, while in Labrador it will increase by half a cent.

Furnace and stove oil will increase by 1.31 cents per liter, and propane will increase by 0.7 cents.

This week all Nunatsiavut communities will be celebrating the National Indigenous Peoples Day virtually.

The OK radio contacted the DHSD’s in the Nunatsiavut communities to find out what is planned for this year.

We spoke with the Community Health Workers from Postville and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Candy Jacque is the Community Health Worker for the DHSD in Postville.

She says anyone interested in participating in the traditional dress contest can post their pictures tomorrow, Friday, June 19 on their DHSD Facebook page.

You are asked to take a picture of yourself wearing traditional standing clothing by 12pm, and if you can’t take a picture, they will come by and take the picture for you.

Sharon Edmunds is the Team Leader with the DHSD in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

She says they have a virtual musician concert planned for this Friday.

Click here to hear Jacque and Edmunds on what is planned for the National Indigenous People’s Day.

The OK Radio is looking for a temporary radio producer.

Under the supervision of the Senior Radio Producer, the Radio Producer prepares new, current affairs for daily broadcast on the Society’s radio network.

This will run until position is filled and preference will be given to Nunatsiavut Beneficiaries.

Please note that an employment offer is conditional upon receipt of a Criminal Records Search, Vulnerable Sector Screening that is acceptable to the OKâlaKatiget Society.

For more information, you can contact Arlene Ikkusek at the OK Society office at 922-2955 or email arlene.ikkusek@oksociety.com

The Nunatsiavut Group of Companies would like to announce that they have scholarships to be given out.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting interruption to the secondary and post secondary school years.

NGC has extended the deadline for applications to their scholarship program.

The new deadline for applications is now July 5, 2020.

NGC offers four scholarships of $1250 annually; one award is reserved for students enrolled in business, one for construction/mining trades and another one for Marine and another for reserved for female candidates in either field.

Applications must be a beneficiary of the Labrador Inuit Lands Claims Agreement and enrolled in a post secondary, processional development, or college program, in addition applicants must have completed one block or year of post secondary training.

You can apply through their website: www.ngc-ng.ca under the “in our community” tab clock on the scholarship application to complete the application process.

Gasoline prices will be going down tomorrow according to the Consumer Group for Fair Gas Prices.

George Murphy’s numbers show a decrease in the cost of gas by 1.2 cents per litre.

Heating and stove oil are expected to increase by 0.6 cents per litre and diesel is expected to increase by 0.7 cents per litre.

The PUB will set the official price at midnight tonight.

The Torngat Regional Housing Association, TRHA is currently accepting applications for a 2 bedroom second hand house in Hopedale.

Interested parties must submit an application along with a copy of their 2019 income to the Hopedale local housing committee.

Applications should be in by June 30, 2020.

Applications received after June 30, and applications received without income verification will not be considered by the local housing committee.

Applications may be picked up from the Hopedale Local Housing Committee, or from the TRHA office in Hopedale.