Masking no longer mandatory at Iqaluit hospital, boarding home

Mask-wearing is no longer mandatory at Qikiqtani General Hospital and the Sailijaaqvik boarding home in Iqaluit, the Nunavut Health Department announced Monday in a news release.

The department put the mandatory masking in place July 22 in response to whooping cough outbreaks affecting Iqaluit and Pond Inlet. Another whooping cough outbreak was later declared in Arctic Bay on Friday.

Wearing a mask is still strongly recommended in those settings to protect vulnerable people, particularly those at high risk of complications from pertussis, or whooping cough, Monday’s release said.

Whooping cough is a respiratory disease of the throat and lungs that spreads easily. It can affect anyone, but the most severe cases are in children under the age of one, the release said. It is preventable with immunization, and early diagnosis and treatment is important.

Symptoms include:

• A cough that lasts longer than a week;
• A cough followed by an unusual sound like a “whoop”;
• Difficulty breathing;
• Vomiting after coughing;
• Coughing that is worse at night;
• A fever of 39 C and above that lasts more than three days.

People in Iqaluit who have symptoms can call Qikiqtani General Hospital to book an appointment or go to the Rapid Access Clinic to be assessed. Free masks are available at the Iqaluit public health office at 1091 Mivvik St.