Nunavut moves toward handling COVID-19 like the flu

Key takeaways: 

• Health officials plan to ease COVID-19 limitations in the coming months slowly.
• Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Michael Patterson address the residents about the covid restrictions. 

Covid restrictions to be reduced gradually in the coming days: 

Over the coming months, Nunavut will slowly lessen COVID-19 health measures to eventually control the virus similar to influenza.

Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Michael Patterson declared the change in approach during a live COVID-19 briefing Tuesday.

Akeeagok stated the territory had pursued the same plan for the prior two years to handle the pandemic — but with what we now know regarding the virus, and in light of tools like the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s time to alter that strategy.

“Today, we require a new approach,” he declared.

“In the following few weeks and months, with Dr. Patterson’s advice, Nunavut will be pursuing the lead of other jurisdictions across Canada and the globe.”

He stated that any plans would be prepared with the territory’s precise requirements in mind.

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Patterson stated he would be looking at shifting away from required isolation for individuals exposed to COVID-19. The region is also moving away from restricting gatherings.

“It’s going to be a gradual transition where every few weeks we relax a certain place of measures,” he stated.

He told the territory will keep testing and surveillance to concentrate on outbreaks at schools, elder centers, and other high-risk facilities.

Limitations ease the following week for ten more neighborhoods.

Patterson stated as of Feb. 28; the region will be loosening constraints in Arctic Bay, Pangnirtung, Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Coral Harbour, Sanikiluaq, Cambridge Bay, Kugaaruk, Resolute Bay, and Pond Inlet.

Those neighborhoods will be permitted to have outdoor gatherings of up to 50 individuals, indoor private meetings of up to 10 individuals plus family members, and indoor public groups of up to 25 individuals or 50 percent of the area’s capacity.

Source – cbc.ca