Nunavut again extends COVID-19 public health emergency

The Government of Nunavut has extended the territory’s public health emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic until April 30.

This is the second time the GN has extended the emergency. It was first declared by Health Minister George Hickes on March 18 and was extended on April 2 until April 16.

“Nunavut’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 have proven effective so far,” Hickes said in a news release on Thursday, April 16.

“Now is not the time to relax measures or loosen our guidelines. We need to remain committed in order to protect our communities.”

In Nunavut, an order to declare a public health emergency expires after 14 days. According to Nunavut’s Public Health Act, the health minister, on the recommendation of the chief public health officer, can extend the public health emergency if the public health emergency continues to exist and the extension is required to protect public health.

Nunavut’s Public Health Act states that, during a public health emergency, the chief public health officer has the power to:

• Authorize qualified persons to render specific types of aid.
• Enter into an agreement for services with any agency of the Government of Canada, a province or another territory.
• Procure and provide for the distribution of medical supplies, aid and equipment in any part of Nunavut.
• Acquire or use real or personal property, whether private or public, other than a dwelling.
• Make orders restricting travel to or from Nunavut or any area within Nunavut.
• Enter or authorize any person implementing a direction or order from the chief public health officer to enter any premises without a warrant.
• Take any other necessary measures for the protection of public health during the public health emergency.

There are still no confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut. To date, 404 people have been tested, with 214 people still waiting for results and 190 cleared.