Nunavik’s active COVID-19 cases rise back above 200

The Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services reported 64 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the active case count up to 214 in the region.

These numbers mark the first time since Nov. 14 that active cases in Nunavik have risen above 200.

Kangiqsualujjuaq reported the largest surge of new cases, with 37, creating a total of 86. Other notable increases include Puvirnituq, which reported 13 new cases and a total of 39 active cases, as well as Ivujivik, which reported five new cases and a total of 34 active cases. Those three communities remain on a stricter “red” alert, while other Nunavik communities remain under “orange-plus” restrictions, which are equivalent to Quebec’s province-wide restrictions.

Only essential services such as grocery stores, health services, garages, municipal services, hotels and daycare services remain open in communities under “red” alert. Schools are closed and private gatherings are prohibited.

In “orange-plus” communities, essential businesses remain open, and only people who live alone may gather within a single household. Visitors are allowed for essential support services in nursing homes.

The recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Nunavik, as well as across Canada, has been associated with the Omicron variant, which is more contagious than Delta. This week’s Nunavik case numbers are over 20 times higher than what they were before Christmas.

In the health board’s Wednesday COVID-19 breakdown, Kuujjuarapik was the only community that reported zero new or active cases.