Several new COVID-19 cases announced in Nunavik, including 1 of unknown origin
Individual who tested positive no longer in region, health board says
Health officials in Nunavik say a case of COVID-19 likely originated in Kuujjuaq or Puvirnituq. (Graphic by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash)
Health officials in Nunavik say they’ve discovered somebody who likely caught COVID-19 while in Nunavik — they just aren’t sure where it happened.
Meanwhile, there are three recent positive cases out of Ivujivik. One was announced Oct. 8, and two more were announced Sunday evening. Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services spokesperson Josee Levesque says the community is now under a red alert level.
That means Ivujivik’s school, arena, community centre, daycare and church are closed until further notice. The community’s store, nursing station, police station and other essential workers are still providing services.
All of the affected people are in isolation while contact tracing takes place, said Levesque.
The health board said Saturday that the original case out of Ivujivik is not related to the case of unknown origin in the region. The alert about the two newer cases does not indicate whether a connection is still ruled out.
Officials believe it originated in either Kuujjuaq or Puvirnituq, and they’re interviewing and testing people who may have been contacts in both communities.
“The number of contacts appears to be small, which is reassuring,” states the release.
The person is no longer in the region.
There is more testing available in Kuujjuaq and Puvirnituq and officials are encouraging people experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to call the health line at 1-888-662-7482 or their local health centre.
Danger lurks in our backyard. Our defenders (public health) are fighting an invisible enemy. We have to help them to battle this enemy by really complying with their protocols and recommendations, like it or not. It becomes terrible news when COVID-19 is reported in Nunavik.