New COVID-19 case in Whale Cove brings Nunavut’s active cases to nine

6,000 doses of Moderna vaccine en route to Nunavut in early January, health officials say

By Sarah Rogers

Nunavut has one new active case of COVID-19 Dec. 28: the second case in Whale Cove since the virus re-emerged in the Kivalliq community.

The Government of Nunavut announced a new case of COVID-19 in Whale Cove last week, which was the first new active case announced since a small outbreak of 21 cases — all now recovered — were identified in the community earlier this month.

As of Dec. 28, there are now two active cases of COVID-19 in Whale Cove and seven active cases in Arviat, the GN noted in its updated statistics Dec. 28.

As of this week, 2,219 Nunavummiut have been tested for the virus. Of the 266 who have tested positive for COVID-19 across the territory, 256 have now recovered.

Nunavut is set to receive its first batch of the newly-approved Moderna vaccine in early January, health officials say — an initial shipment of 6,000 doses.

The GN estimates the territory will have received enough of Moderna’s vaccine to inoculate 75 per cent of adults across the territory by the end of March 2021.

The GN urges anybody who thinks they have been exposed to COVID-19 to call 1-888-975-8601, or notify their community health centre, and immediately start a 14-day isolation.

 

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(9) Comments:

  1. Posted by Gary Ippiak on

    Where can we go get tested, my common law and I have been wondering where to go or who to see, as for the remaining infected persons recover soon

    • Posted by all in on

      Gary you’re supposed to call this number and someone will set you up with a test.1-888-975-8601

  2. Posted by Name withheld on

    We have been seeing more from Kivalliq Region during the holidays. I thought the flights were stopped?

    Will this be contain if it ever gets to the capital ? Especially with homelessness? Yes I commend all the hard work the CPHO has been doing but what about the Housing Corporation or Shelter for mens ? I cannot help but wonder about the men’s who live on the shoreline.

    • Posted by Ryan on

      I heard that the shelter is one of the groups getting priority for the vaccine. A limited batch of Moderna is supposed to be coming in early January.

    • Posted by Hot Air Balloon on

      “I thought the flights were stopped?”

      Why did you think that?

      • Posted by Name withheld on

        As I have seen couple ppl in the Capital that arrived 21-23 of December from both of the communities banned from flying out.

        I don’t think anyone will ever take the non essential travel seriously as Covid has not stop people from following the rules at all.

  3. Posted by Qavvigarjuk on

    I have a feeling that there will be a lot more covid cases in Whale Cove that will show up as soon as the planes fly again to send samples for testing in Rankin Inlet. The Kivalliq has been experiencing blizzard conditions since Christmas eve. I also would not be surprised if we see new cases in Rankin. Several people from whale cove came to Rankin inlet by snowmobile to do xmas shopping with their KIA coupons before travel between the communities was banned. How did covid reemerge in Whale cove again after they were declared covid free I want to know. The gn should have tested everyone in WC. It is a small community and very doable to catch asymptomatic people with covid.

    • Posted by The Old Trapper on

      I have a theory;
      . Possibly 60% of infected people are asymptomatic.
      . Kids also appear to have very few cases.
      I think that kids are getting infected at a rate comparable to adults, they just don’t exhibit symptoms and so aren’t tested as often as adults.
      .
      We also know that kids are great vectors for most every other virus or disease, especially influenza and colds.
      .
      My theory is that kids may be passing it to each other, then from family to family, from the child to adults.
      .
      Given the small populations, and isolated natures of Whale Cove, Arviat, even Rankin Inlet, this would be a great opportunity for Health Canada to come in and test the whole town to see who exactly is positive and figure out how coronavirus has spread.

  4. Posted by David Kritterdlik on

    Most of medical travels in Kivalliq including Sanikiluaq are directed to Winnipeg, Manitoba where the virus is very active. All of Nunavut cases are in Kivalliq. Travel by snowmobile may have part, but those who did still has not been confirmed positive.

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