COVID-19 ‘worse than it has ever been’ in Nunavik, says health board

259 active cases reported in region on Monday, with 198 in Salluit

Kuujjuaq residents line up at a drive-thru COVID-19 screening at Ungava Tulattavik Health Centre on Sunday, Nov. 7. The region’s health board is asking that one person from each household be screened for the virus as a preventative measure. As of Monday, Nunavik is reporting 259 active cases of COVID-19. Many of the cases are concentrated in Salluit, which has 198. (Photo by Vanessa Chaperlin)

By Nunatsiaq News

The Nunavik Regional Health and Social Services Board reported 30 new positive COVID-19 tests on Monday, bringing the region’s total to 259 active cases. Just a week ago, the number of active cases in the region went above 200.

All but four of the new cases were reported in Salluit, where 198 cases remain active.

“The COVID-19 situation in Nunavik is serious,” a Facebook posting by the health board states. “It is worse than it has ever been compared to all of Quebec since the pandemic started.”

Five patients have been flown south for treatment and another seven are in regional hospitals, the health board said in a Friday email. The health board has also stated that 80 per cent of the people who have tested positive were “not adequately vaccinated.”

The health board said on Sunday that it intends to crack down on people who are not respecting isolation orders.

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(24) Comments:

  1. Posted by Got Tylenol? on

    Shopping cart theory.. ever heard of it? Unless there is a binding agreement to do something convenient and beneficial for the rest of society that is backed with punishment or reward, a vast majority of people will not take back a shopping cart from which they took it. Same with people sent south for medical and have to isolate. Unless you’re keeping tabs on them at home, good luck. Hopefully they don’t wait until it’s too late next time.

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  2. Posted by Dr Ho on

    What is the vaccination rates for these communities? Sounds like there is a low vaccination and I am not surprised they are having a difficult time with Covid.

    Too many misinformation and fearmongering that goes on towards vaccines, take the vaccine, its easy, very little side effects, help your body to be more protected and help others around you. If you have any concerns or questions for this vaccine talk to a doctor who knows about vaccines and not your keyboard friend that looked up a few things on social media.

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    • Posted by God will protect them on

      It’s the lowest.
      .
      VACCINATION RATE ONLY 31 PER CENT IN HARD-HIT TOWN
      .
      As of Oct. 17, vaccination rates hovered around 35 to 45 per cent in most of Nunavik’s villages, a coverage rate about half of that in the rest of Quebec.
      .
      The town of Salluit currently has 198 active cases of COVID-19, the highest number in the entire region.
      .
      The town’s population is about 1,500 and only 31 per cent have received both shots, according to Nunavik’s published data.

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    • Posted by Lowest in Canada on

      Latest numbers show that Nunavik communities have the lowest vaccination rates in Canada — with some hovering around 30% of eligible adults.

      Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

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      • Posted by Let’s plant some trees in nunavik on

        Given the statistics provided by the NRBHSS, the communities with trees in their region, are more likely to get vaccinated.
        We should plant some trees in the other communities where they have no trees. Those trees would probably defrost their brains, which are stuck in the ice ages. Get vaccinated brain frozen people

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        • Posted by No trees on

          Its not about being stuck in the ice age but more about being colonized with religion, being told its the mark, or a chip being implanted, getting poisoned, sick with covid and so on.
          Its crazy the amount of false information that gets preached about vaccines.

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          • Posted by Beer the tree , don’t water them on

            The preacher of fairy tales is not as big as the flock being preached to. If people can be lead into believing foolishness , there’s little hope for them anyway. If one woman or man tells a thousand to jump off the cliff and the thousand obey just for faith, then I think the world is closer to a better place for the many thousands that would never listen to such commands.

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            • Posted by Ex preacher on

              It’s a a little bit more complicated than that, take a look at all the antivaxxers in Canada, it’s in the millions, right wing crazies pushing their agenda against vaccines, freedoms and so on, it’s no wonder in certain areas of Canada there are hot spots for Covid due to these groups pushing their ideology on people.
              Even with proper scientific factual information out there some do not want to believe it.

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  3. Posted by Guessing game season on

    It’s soon guessing game time. Christmas around the corner. This years top prize will go to who can guess who’s vaccinated. We already have a non official game going on! As to who has Covid, and who’s not following quarantine after testing positive. What if the sensible people of Nunavik, those vaccinated, request that the beer and wine be shut down for a month, to get those non vaccinated to get vaccinated. It’s a sacrifice that vaccinated people could make, after all it’s the vaccinated who have motivation. Yes, and have any not vaccinated, not be able to get in the coop store where those beer sales are going on, would be good for our largest town. All considerations will be given to those who for medical reasons that can’t get vaccinated, but there’s not many that have that allergy anyway, but some. No vaccine, no beer or wine at the coop.

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  4. Posted by Leadership lack on

    It’s been said and it’s been felt, and it’s true. Nunavik lack leadership. There’s no leader identified professionally speaking in this new wave of Covid as we experience in Nunavik. The lack of leadership shows more than ever. If we look at Nunavut and NWT, the Yukon, and all a other areas of this country, we can identify with a leader on a daily bases giving out information, advice, hope, and direction. We do have a retired nurse on air daily, in one community, we do have iconic leadership at Nunavik regional board, but no public health doctor heard from, no consistent leadership with professional background. We do have two readers! Reading from reports, not understanding themselves what’s be said by themselves. If you look at Facebook page for Nunavik health it’s to say the least , got people more confused then ever. We need a few journalists to help with the probe at this time, and the Quebec government to assign some leadership.

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    • Posted by Leadership lack on

      Please tune in to the regional radio programs to listen to what our local leaders are relaying, from professional health care workers are advising us people to do.

      I hear a new representative from a different organization going on air everyday
      They are informed,

      What more information do you need to understand the seriousness of this pandemic

      Don’t be stupid , get vaccinated

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      • Posted by The point is on

        The point is, the leadership is inadequate, and failing to deliver the message and preventive seriousness of this new delta variant. The leadership failed to comprehend the ongoing a seriousness and long term aspects of this pandemic. Opening Nunavik widely, like laying out a welcome mat to tell Covid to come on in. The gatherings, the meetings, the relaxed attitude allowed to not just essential workers, but everyone. Just a few weeks ago, I walked into a hospital in Nunavik, and there was a wide open door, no guards and no concern! People were coming and going as they did before the pandemic. This is a time of reflection for all of us and the authorities need to see their mistake too.

        • Posted by The point is on

          We have been told about this pandemic for almost 2 years now.
          Why aren’t the people vaccinated.. we could have been doing all this behaviour if everyone was vaccinated.

          What more information do the people need.

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        • Posted by Thomas on

          It’s not about leadership, it’s about getting vaccinated and respecting public health measures. NRBHSS has done a great job up until now, but it was inevitable that covid would eventually arrive in Nunavik. This is the delta variant, highly contagious and hitting younger people. People in red zone need to lock down and stop socializing. We’re very lucky Kuujjuaq hasn’t been it as hard as Salluit or Kangirsuk…yet. Or maybe because Kuujjuamiut have a higher rate of vaccination?

          • Posted by Not good enough on

            The restrictions are not good enough. We are having a funeral today for a covid positive case in kuujjuaq. This is serious, the Regional board must get together with the other authorities and stop anything that’s leading to gatherings and parties The coop beer and wine sales are maybe runner up and first place winner as a source to the potential devastation that’s at our door. Everywhere you go, there’s groups. The stores for groceries are another area to tighten up too. I saw one hired guard in one store, as by the municipal job offer, he may have gave his services for a day or so , then disappeared as fast as he came, tough job, but if something is not done soon, it’s not difficult to see the consequences to come.

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            • Posted by Not good on

              Yes, even though the persons death, may not have been a direct result of covid, it was at least covid related and should be mentioned as an important aspect of this pandemic situation. It’s so unfortunate that the regional board are failing to see and understand the full impact of the covid situation, holistically.

  5. Posted by Contacted on

    I’ve contacted with the person who was tested positive of covid. That person was told the quarantine ended so I picked up that person and a day later, we received a call from health board that the person was tested positive of covid. Don’t just tell them that their quarantine ended when you haven’t get any results yet. I’m so disappointed that I have to do quarantine now because of health board’s mistake. Great, very great ..

  6. Posted by Laughing Eskimo on

    What I cannot understand is. Why are you pushing this on Eskimos when the whole world is protesting against it??

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    • Posted by Smiling Inuk on

      Pushing what? and what is the whole world protesting?

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    • Posted by Annie an Inuk on

      Laughing Eskimo, you are an Inuk today. Eskimo where nomadic and used dog sleds, lived in igloos and did everything they can to provide food for survival. Your comments just proves your ignorance.

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      • Posted by Circumpolar peoples on

        Some places like Alaska still prefer term Eskimo over Inuit because the Yupik and Aleut tribes do not consider them selves Inuit .

  7. Posted by Total on

    As by Nunavik regional board November 12/21. Just to mention a few: total positive cases noted to date in Nunavik since October 7 is 549. Look kuujjuaq has to date total cases positive 40 since that time.

  8. Posted by Is Santa coming to Nunavik this year? on

    Santa usually comes to town , Nunavik no exceptions. But what about this year? First of all is he vaccinated? He must be vaccinated for sure. After all, he really cares about others , he’s not selfish. I really think Santa will come, even if he needs to quarantine, wearing a mask is nothing to him, he’ll even have the reindeer wear one too, except Rudolph needs to have his red nose exposed, but hey, no animal except humans are passing this virus along to the others around them. Santa , reindeer, elf, even mrs clause, they know how not to gather, even when they are working for the good of humanity. But you know what? Santa still May not bring you a present, if you are capable of being vaccinated, but you decide not to think of others and the community and continue to party and gather. Don’t be naughty, go see a nurse, get the shot, and allow your love ones and community to enjoy Christmas. Ho ho ho.

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  9. Posted by What’s next? on

    As the spread continues, it will become worse. Next will be our kids that’s going to get infected. Think about the age groups of kids not vaccinated yet, combined with adults that refuse to get vaccinated. Ontario is seeing it more in children now, and soon it’s going to be the same here, if we don’t take more drastic action to prevent it. People have to get vaccinated, and the authorities have to enforce more effective restrictions, thereby making it sink into people that vaccination and isolation, and distancing are the only way out of this. People must wake up. Authorities have the opportunity now to get strict before it gets where we will see lots of illness and fatalities.

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