5 new cases of COVID-19 counted in Nunavut’s capital

Five new cases of COVID-19 and eight recoveries were reported in Nunavut on Wednesday, all in Iqaluit.

This brings the territory’s active case count to 82, 80 of which are in the capital city and two in Kinngait, Premier Joe Savikataaq announced through social media.

Vaccination clinics are ongoing and to date, 16,216 Nunavummiut have received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine and 12,621 have received both doses.

Since the outbreak began in the territory, there have been 63 recoveries.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Dr. Michael Patterson, the chief public health officer, confirmed 23 of the total cases in Nunavut — 123 at the time — were in people under the age of 18. It has not been confirmed whether any of the five new positive cases are in people under 18.

Last week, Patterson said fewer than five of the total cases involved people under 18.

Two patients have been medevaced as of Tuesday. Their conditions are not yet known.

Contact tracing is ongoing and so far, all swabs sent to be tested for different strains have found the B117 strain, also known as the U.K. variant.

Outbreaks at Baffinland’s Mary River mine and at the Baffin Correctional Centre are ongoing and staff members at the Tammaativvik medical boarding home have tested positive.

For Iqaluit residents who are in overcrowded housing situations or don’t have anywhere to isolate, the Government of Nunavut is designating the Aqsarniit hotel an isolation site.

Iqaluit remains under a state of emergency.