Newfoundland and Labrador has recorded 4 new deaths due to COVID-19 revealed today Wednesday, May 10 update of the provincial government’s online pandemic dashboard.

The update covering from April 23 to May 6 says there were 17 hospitalizations during those 2 weeks, including 3 people in critical care.

The update says that there was just 1 death, but data in it’s regional and age breakdowns reveals 3 other deaths, which would have happened before April 23 but not attributed to COVID-19 before the last update, two weeks ago.

Three of the deaths were in the Eastern Health Region and 1 in the Western Health Region. Three of the people who died were 80 or older, while the fourth one was in their 70’s.

The new deaths raise the provinces total to 344 since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

On Friday the World Health Organization said COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency, it also noted the pandemic has come to an end, with recent spikes in cases in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

In Spring of 1992, there was an announcement on the opening of the new Friendship Centre.

It was founded in 1972 and was administered by a steering committee which included the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Inuit Association and the Company of Young Canadians.

At the time, there were 11 board members from the Upper Lake Melville area – Goose Bay, Northwest River, and Sheshatshiu.

Click here to hear more of the report from 1992.

The National Hockey League continued their play offs last night.

The Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers.

Knights won 5-1 over Oilers.

Tonight will be Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars vs. Seattle Kraken.

We will have more for you tomorrow.

The Provinces Chief Medical of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald calls the World Health Organization ending the global health emergency around COVID-19 encouraging.

The WHO made the declaration late last week with the caveat that the disease is still very much a threat.

Dr. Fitzgerald says that it is reassuring that they have looked at all the evidence and that COVID, while still a serious health issue, that they have to contend with no longer requires the same level of international coordination and response.

She does not believe the WHO’s decision will have much of an effect in this province as the emergency here, was already ended over a year ago.

Dr. Fitzgearld says they have been moving toward an approach of COVID being a part of the province’s infection disease landscape, similar to the flu and RSV.

Courtesy VOCM News.

This week is Nurses Week, Monday, May 8 to Sunday, May 14th.

The theme for 2023 is Our Nurses, Our Future.

This theme showcases the many roles that nurses play in a patient’s health care journey. Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners have always faced challenges head on, with commitment and courage.

Caring for our province’s most vulnerable, never giving up on their patients and playing a vital role trying to stabilize our strained health care system.

Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and all nursing professionals continue to show up to take care of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you for everything you do!

There is a new program launched to help teach Inuttitut.

Today, May 9, 2023, the Nunatsiavut Government’s Department of Language, Culture and Tourism launched a website called Tusaalanga.

Tusaalanga is a project aimed to assist Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement on how to speak and read the Labrador Inuit dialect. The department has partnered with an Inuit organization “Pirurvik” based out of Iqaluit, to create Nunatsiavut Inuttitut textbooks in levels 1, 2 and 3 as well as a website.

Roxanne Barbour, Minister of Language, Culture and Tourism says, “The website and this resource was created with hopes that adult learners, junior high and high school students will benefit the most.”

To mark the launch of tusaalanga.ca, there will be open houses today. These events will take place from 10am till 12 noon, and 1-3pm at the Illusuak Centre in Nain, and the DHSD building in Hopedale. There will also be a live Facebook feed for those who cannot attend in person.

“We were delighted to have been part of the success of this project for Nunatsiavummiut. Our Inuktut language must be our daily priority and must have a rightful place too in the digital world.” Stated Chris Douglas, Pirurvik’s director of productions.

The Nain Inuit Community Government has some plans for their projects this summer.

We spoke with AngajukKâk Joe Dicker for Nain; he says the two projects that they have on the go is the cemetery and the bridge.

He says the lumber for the bridge has been ordered and will be coming on the boat, and says it will also be good for people who need to work for their hours to qualify for EI.

Dicker adds that they had a joint management meeting with the 4 other Inuit community governments to see what they’ll need for their communities.

Click here to hear more from AngajukKâk Dicker.

Holly Andersen says she hopes her film inspires people to be kinder to each other.

Holly Andersen’s short film, Hebron relocation, one of the biggest film festivals in North America, is screening the hot docs Canadian international documentary festival in Toronto. Each year, the festival presents more than 200 films from around the world.

Andersen’s story is personal. She grew up in one of the houses constructed for the people of Hebron who were forced by the Newfoundland government to relocate to Makkovik in 1959. Today, she lives in another home that was built for those who relocated.

Her film weaves together intimate stories from Labrador’s north coast, along with archival footage, in a look at the difficult past that changed the lives of many Labrador Inuit.

Click here to hear more from Andersen on her short film.

The National Hockey League’s playoffs continues each night.

Last night was the Dallas Stars vs. Seattle Kraken, and Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers, and then the Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils.

Kraken won over Stars 7-3, Panthers beat Leafs 3-2, then Devils won 8-4 over Hurricanes.

Tonight will be Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers.

We will have more again tomorrow.

The Nain DHSD is holding a virtual Mother’s Day scavenger hunt.

Here is the list of items:

• A baby picture
• Child’s artwork
• Handmade gift
• Family heirloom (something passed on from older generations)
• Your child/children doing an impression of you
• Mom’s do an impression of your child/children
• Your child telling you they love you

When posting your pictures or videos, please include your name on the post.

Prizes consist of:

– 1st prize – $350 gift certificate from Frank’s and 5 gallons of gas
– 2nd prize – $250 gift certificate from Frank’s and 5 gallons of gas
– 3rd prize – $150 gift certificate from Frank’s and 5 gallons of gas

The closing date for the scavenger hunt is Friday, May 12 of this year.