Nunavut premier isolating after COVID-19 exposure
Deputy premier Pamela Gross to take over as acting premier until Mar. 23
Premier P.J. Akeeagok was in contact with someone who contracted COVID-19 so he will isolate until Mar. 23. Deputy premier Pamela Gross will become acting premier and take over his duties during that time. (File photo)
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok is isolating at home after he was exposed over the weekend to someone who later tested positive for COVID-19.
He made the announcement in a news release Tuesday afternoon.
Akeeagok himself has not tested positive for COVID-19, according to his press secretary, Sima Sahar Zerehi.
“Although I am not experiencing any symptoms at this time, per public health instructions I will be isolating until March 23,” said Akeeagok in the release.
Deputy premier Pamela Gross will take over as acting premier while Akeeagok is isolating. While Gross assumes the premier’s duties, Akeeagok will continue to be engaged in government business while respecting health protocols, said Zerehi.
“Isolating is hard for any family,” Akeeagok stated.
“However, we all must do our part to protect vulnerable community members such as elders, individuals with compromised immune systems and young infants who are not eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.”
Akeeagok is fully vaccinated and has his booster shot.
Anyone who develops COVID-19 or has the symptoms is advised to call the COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-975-8601 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. or phone their community health centre. Do not go to a health centre in person if you have developed COVID-19 symptoms, Akeeagok stated.
This is a great opportunity for the fresh young face of first time MLA and minister Pamela Gross to shine. Best of luck during this assignment and may the Premier safely isolate during these times and quickly return to his role
The new path forward was to live with Covid. I don’t understand why people are isolating anymore… the government gave up on this?! Didn’t they? I think it was signified by the sending of rapid test kits to schools
Exactly! Shouldnt he just be self monitoring and due to the significance of his role, continue working? Surely he can attend the house by Zoom/Teams? Here schools are at 100% but the Premier can’t get an isolation exemption to continue working? Someone ducking some questions?
Although I support Pam Gross and I think she has good potential, I do not think that the Deputy Premier should be a first time MLA. Especially when the Premier is a first time MLA. A rookie backing up a rookie leading the team.
There is pro and cons with every move, I think with this move, the Deputy will be incline to changes in approach, if it was one of the old guards, it would be, you can’t do that or you can’t go there. But I hear your concerns and a valid point at the same token.
If all school staff did what he did we wouldn’t have any staff at school. School staff are constantly exposed to Covid cases but we need to stay at work unless we get ill.
This is our Brand new government under scrutiny by the coronavirus epidemic ,
It is here to stay. CPHO states we will learn to live with it like a seasonal flu .
Too bad but better safe than sorry , please continue all protocols and stand firm with masking. Spring is around the corner and with that will come freedoms we don’t have as of just yet , once we are all getting back out on the lands to recharge and harvest from the lands then true freedom will be back in the Arctic .
Is this a joke? What about teachers who are exposed daily? They still have to go to work regardless of exposure, which is happening daily. The optics on this one are not good Mr. Premier.
What happened to MASKS is mandatory?
Stay safe in isolation Mr. Premier and great to hear Pamela will get a chance to shine. If there needs to be a temporary Deputy Premier appointment in the interim, look no further than George Hickes. He has the experience to cover the role and will do so with calm and clarity while Gross is acting.
Unfortunately this Assembly chose not to elect the very knowledgeable and competent Mr. Hickes into Cabinet, therefore he would not be eligible for such a position. That said, there will be no Deputy Premier for the Deputy Premier, there is a line of succession if Pam Gross were to also fall ill.
They will then need a minister for the minister of the deputy premier…x2
Might as well throw in the dice and let the MLAs have a turn .
Do as I say, not as I do. Pathetic.
“Rules for thee, but not for me”
I thought the GN had decided this was over. Did COVID not agree?
Attack,Attack,Attack, us keyboard warriors never stop, never happy with anything .
To my understanding the isolation was change to 5 days for fully vaccinated individuals considering they received the 3 dose?
So why 8 days for the Premier?
And no it’s not attack on the Premier.
Like I have said before what makes the MLA’s, health more important than our children ?
Meanwhile , most people exposed don’t know , they continue to go to the stores and Post office in close proximity to everyone and not abide the usual distancing rules set in place by the healthcare professionals. Kids are everywhere and are more prone to taking the coronavirus back to their homes without knowing they have had exposures.
Many kids been tested positive by the education system already and sent home for isolation for ten days , even in the same household ,members of the commune continue to go in and out freely ! Scary stuff for compromised people with immunity disorders. Fix this NU GOV.
Ummm why? Everyone else on the planet is expected to either self monitor and get on with their jobs or work remotely. Why does the Premier think thst it’s appropriate to down tools and take a nice long holiday at his cabin at the expense of the taxpayer?