Nunavut premier issues appeal to daycares to help essential staffers

Key takeaways: 

• Essential services closing breaking point as team face fatigue, Premier P.J. Akeeagok speaks.
• Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Chief Public Health Officer Dr Michael Patterson delivered an update on the COVID-19 position in the territory at 11 a.m. ET Thursday morning.

Nunavut premier says ‘Reopen your doors:’ 

Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok states essential workers in the territory can’t keep operating at their present speed to uphold essential services running.

During a press conference Thursday, Akeeagok administered a special plea for daycares to restart.

“We require you more than ever before. I am requesting that you reopen your doors to help our critical services [stay] operational,” Akeeagok stated. Source – cbc.ca

“Our health care workers, store workers, water and waste management workers must go above and beyond to support our territory during this intense wave of COVID-19. Many of these essential services are now near the breaking point. Staff are tired, balancing work as well as child care, which is unsustainable for many.” Source – cbc.ca

Akeeagok stated Education Minister Pamela Gross is operating with daycares to concern what help the Government of Nunavut can deliver to assist get daycare team back in their facilities.

Also read: Coral Harbour enters the list of Nunavut neighbourhoods fighting Omicron

Akeeagok was entered at Thursday’s press conference by Chief Public Health Officer Dr Michael Patterson and Human Resources Minister Adam Arreak Lightstone.

Lightstone stated staff in his department have been operating “around the clock” for the previous several weeks to address the government’s staffing requirements. Source – cbc.ca

He requested public servants, including those considered essential, to only go to their workplace if needed. Only critically important employees should be operating from the office.

The territory stays under a lockdown till Jan. 17, but Lightstone stated there is no proof government offices will restart at that moment — that relies on the circumstances. A further update will be delivered if persistent shutdowns happen.