Nunavik to ease travel restrictions on Thursday

The Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services is allowing non-essential travel from the south and between Nunavik communities to resume, with some restrictions.

Travellers who have not received at least two COVID-19 vaccine doses are still prohibited from flying to the region and from community to community.

For travel from the south to Nunavik, testing is required 48 to 72 hours before departure. Travellers must also take rapid tests upon arrival, as well as on days two, four, six and eight after arriving.

There are no testing requirements for people who are travelling between communities.

For travel from the south and between communities, people who only have two doses of the vaccine are required to quarantine for 10 days after arriving at their destination. Travellers who have received a booster dose more than 14 days before arrival are not required to quarantine.

All travellers are required to fill out authorization forms, which can be found on the health board’s website.

The health board is also advising residents that although non-essential travel is authorized, people are encouraged to limit their travels due to the active spread of the Omicron variant.

The new travel guidelines take effect on Jan. 27.

Nunavik remains on “red alert” as COVID-19 cases remain high across the region. The health board reported 248 active cases on Monday and 83 new cases since Friday.

The majority of active cases were reported in Kuujjuaq, which had 123 active cases, 37 of which were new since Friday. Nunavik reported active cases in every community on Monday except Akulivik.

The health board is running a second “vaccination blitz” over the next few weeks, offering residents ages five and up in every community their first, second and third doses.