Unlike Nunavut, Greenland focuses on COVID-19 tests for arriving travellers
“One tool to avoid an epidemic is increased testing of arrivals”
Before boarding an Air Greenland flight to Kangerlussuaq, you will have to obtain a permit and be tested for COVID-19. All regular flights from Copenhagen remain suspended until June 1. (Photo by Jane George)
Greenland is introducing repeat COVID-19 testing requirements for travellers, in an effort to stop people infected with COVID-19 from entering the island.
Greenland, with 11 positive cases of COVID-19 to date, has decided to take different than its neighbour to the west, Nunavut, whose government wants all residents to observe a two-week stay in isolation before returning to the territory.
Testing before and after arrival is at the heart of Greenland’s new measures for new entries, in contrast to Nunavut’s approach of enforcing quarantines of travellers before they enter the territory.
“We see a strong increased call for travel to Greenland, especially from business, whose activity has increased. With increased travel, the risk of new infection increases correspondingly, and one tool to avoid an epidemic is increased testing of arrivals,” said Greenland’s chief medical officer, Henrik L. Hansen, in a May 3 news release from the Greenland government.
“We would like to find them before they infect others. That is why we are introducing re-tests of visitors on the fifth day after, while maintaining the 14-day quarantine.”
After no community transmission of COVID-19 was detected in Nuuk, public health and government officials moved in mid-April to reopen the capital city.
Until June 1, regular flights to and from Denmark remain suspended.
But some can still fly to Greenland if they first obtain permits from the Greenland government.
Travellers can obtain a permit if they agree to be tested for COVID-19 before leaving Denmark, and if they agree to be tested again five days after their arrival on the island.
New arrivals will also have to stay at home for the first 14 days in Greenland, the Greenland government said in its news release.
If a traveller’s destination is a village, only the quarantine rules apply and they don’t have to be retested, the release said.
Passengers on Air Greenland flights don’t have to wear masks, unlike passengers on all flights in Nunavut and Nunavik.
80% of people infected with Covid-19 have little to no symptoms, testing twice might be the better approach instead of the costly two week stay in a hotel.
It is interesting to compare your approach with Canada’s.
Denmark has been quite amazing in its handling of things.
Greenland’s ?? Approach has been very amazing.
Greenland’s approach is a sub component of Denmark’s.
It is very interesting have a different Danish approaches have varied among the different parts of the kingdom. The different Danish approaches have varied among the different parts of the kingdom
Greenland’s approach is a component of the Denmark’s approach. You can’t separate them.
Greenland with their home rule government decides on what actions to take and the Greenland government implements them, of coarse there is communication between the governments on both sides but it is up to the Government of Greenland on the coarse of action to take.
Ha, these two comments above support each other you gays.
Greenland has home rule, but it is in not autonomous.
It maintain limited but growsing autonomy and remains part of our Kingdom. The Danish government maintains a lot of power over our lifes
As a Danish Greenlander I’m proud of our system our Kingdom and our Queen!
Denmark controls the military and the pol, everything else in Greenland is under the government of Greenland, might be hard for some to think Denmark is slowly losing control over time but one day Greenland will be completely sovereign.
Denmark is not in total control of Greenland, the two governments work together to decide of certain things but the Greenland government has majority control over Greenland, besides the military and police.
I do think that wearing a mask on an aircraft is a good rule, really anytime you are in public. Anyone who is asymptotic can infect the whole cabin with just one trip down the aisle. Wearing a mask reduces the risk of someone spreading the virus, and will lessen the viral load being put into the air.
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It is interesting to compare our infection rates and mortality rates to some other countries. We do not compare favourably with many other countries. Now some of this may be due to the limited testing available, plus the outbreaks at senior care and nursing home leading to a very high mortality rate.
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Some many also be due to the initial hesitancy to recommend that the public wear masks. Wearing a mask when I’ll is much more common in Asian countries and I have friends in Asian countries that were buying and wearing N95 masks in public back in March.
Greenland: 11 cases
Nunavut: 0 cases
Nunavut’s approach may be expensive, but it has worked, so far.
Yes Greenland had 11 cases but that’s when flights from Europe were still arriving to Greenland and people traveling back, it’s back to zero and the flights from Europe (Denmark and Iceland) have stopped, only certain people are allowed to travel after receiving permission and they have to get tested before they travel and 5 days later while isolating for 14 days.
Testing is very important, with most people do not show signs of any symptoms they could introduce the virus to others. Is your government testing people that are allowed to travel back to Nunavut?
Wishing you safety and protection from this virus. Lets all keep it away from our home.
No, not testing at all, just quarantine.
Essential staff are being let in with merely a review of their travel history.
Greenland is far ahead of us with the testing.
It’s also interesting that the flights from Greenland to Denmark have stopped except for the smaller Dash 8 flying with just a few people once receiving permission.
I guess they do not rely on air cargo? Our GN is spending over 2 million per week to keep the bigger jets flying. That’s is a lot of money being spent.
Would it be more economical to use smaller planes? Maybe not.
Nunavut is much more isolated than Greenland so we’ve had an advantage from the start.
So far, Nunavut has had a good combination of skill and luck but don’t discount the luck side of that equation.
I agree, I am hoping our luck continues but I would like to see our government start to test people coming here too, that is the only way that Covid-19 will enter Nunavut is by someone bringing it from the south, it would be great if we could also do the same and test people that are traveling to Nunavut before they start and 5 days after while they isolate themselves.
Our luck might run out so better to be proactive and prepared.