Nunavut’s COVID-19 count continues to climb as 21 new cases reported

18 new cases in Arviat, two in Rankin Inlet, one in Whale Cove

Food hampers for residents of Rankin Inlet were donated by Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. The mining company also donated food and supplies to Arviat and Whale Cove. (Photo courtesy of Mark Wyatt/Facebook)

By Nunatsiaq News

Nunavut’s COVID-19 active case count climbed to 128 Sunday as 21 new cases were confirmed, the territory’s health department said in a news release Sunday.

The total number of confirmed cases reported since early November hit 130, with the recovery of two people in Sanikiluaq having been previously announced. Sanikiluaq was where Nunavut’s first confirmed case was reported on Nov. 6.

Of the new cases reported Sunday, 18 have been identified in Arviat, two in Rankin Inlet and one in Whale Cove.

Arviat remains the territory’s community with the highest number of reported cases at 98. Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet now both have a total of 15 positive cases.

There is still no evidence of community transmission in Rankin Inlet or Whale Cove and everyone with COVID-19 is in isolation with mild to moderate symptoms, the GN said in a news release.

As of Sunday, 118 tests have come back negative in Rankin Inlet and 344 negative tests came back in Arviat. Testing in Whale Cove yielded 30 negative tests. Monitoring in Sanikiluaq continues, said the GN.

No deaths have been reported in Nunavut since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed more than two weeks ago. Across Canada, more than 325,000 cases have been reported and more than 11,400 deaths since the pandemic began in March, according to the federal government’s COVID-19 update website.

Nunavut’s territory-wide lockdown, which began Nov. 18 and will continue until Dec. 2, remains in place.

“There is still a lot of work to be done and it will take some time to see if our current public health measures are working,” said Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer.

 

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(14) Comments:

  1. Posted by North of 80 on

    Here’s my question: why people in Arviat still selling a lot of unnecessary stuff on facebook page? It also should be shutted down. If an infected person sells something, the chance for the buyer contacting the virus is hight

    • Posted by Iqaluit man on

      I am in Iqaluit, and I haven’t been selling stuff on the sell/swap here because of the lockdown. I thought that would just be common sense. So surprised that Arviat would allow this if the virus is rampant there.

      • Posted by boris pasternak on

        Drinking and gambling i guess. Many just don’t care, can’t be without cash, to many have additions; the capital is not a hotspot for bad things; Arviat is, i know, i live in this town.

    • Posted by trapper on

      Money is to strong

    • Posted by Keith on

      There is minimal to no risk sending something; the virus doesn’t last long outside the body, and there have been no reported cases anywhere in the world of someone picking it up from an object. All known cases have picked it up when it’s been airborne.

      • Posted by Iqaluit man on

        Are you in Nunavut, Keith? On sell/swap people go to the seller’s house to pick it up or the the seller goes to the buyers house to drop it off. Very unnecessary at this time in a small hamlet with a rapidly spreading virus. Additionally, if the virus gets in someone’s house, there is a high chance everyone in the house will get it.

  2. Posted by trapper on

    Rankin Baker agnico eagle help only the two places never other community ?never that I don’t no why?

    • Posted by The affected communities on

      Agnico Eagle supports the local “affected’ communities, those being the ones that are closest to the mines and have the most to benefit from the location of the mine. One cannot expect them to donate to all the other communities in the vicinity or in the region.

  3. Posted by Okay on

    That picture with the donation of food is very condescending to the Inuit people. We need to stop doing it. It is virtue signalling by Agnico. Many charities are very good at doing this especially to poor people in Africa.

  4. Posted by Iqaluit man on

    Also, how on earth would you know Keith if all 50 million plus cases have been purely transmitted by air? That’s a pretty bold statement to make.

    • Posted by Keith on

      Sorry, I was incorrect. There are *2* possible cases (out of 58 million worldwide) where surface transmission may have happened: an elevator button in China, and medical equipment in South Africa.
      .
      If someone is selling something all they have to do is put it in a bad and leave it outside the door. Then someone can put on gloves, bring it inside, and put it aside for a day if they’re that concerned. By far the greater risk is talking in person, not the object being handled.

      • Posted by Wake up on

        Keith in theory youre right – in practice, you couldn’t be any further from the truth. Cash. You think people will just leave cash on their doorstep in an envelope? Ya right. A cash transaction is a full contact transaction.

  5. Posted by Bob on

    I’d be curious to know how many people accept a hamper from AEM who have been opposing them since they started mining years ago. Also, does anyone question AEM’s charity here? I mean, it’s good that they’re willing to help, but I think they might be breeding expectations. I’ve been surprised at how people talk about AEM “doing their job” by plowing roads. Really!? People do realize they aren’t the government right?

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