This is a radio script shared with our Community Liaison Officers and Community Directors to share on local hamlet radio stations. It provides updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Nunavut.

 

Hi all,

I am your Community Director/Community Liaison Officer for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.

I want to tell you about measures Nunavut is taking to help minimize the spread of coronavirus or the COVID-19 pandemic.

To date there are no cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut.

The public health team in Nunavut is following approximately 111 people under investigation for COVID-19. 43 people previously under investigation have been cleared.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 Nunavut is escalating their mitigation measures.

ALL public gatherings are now banned in Nunavut.

Starting Tuesday, March 24 at 11:59 p.m. only Nunavut residents and critical workers will be allowed into the territory.

Residents will have to provide proof of residency to be allowed to fly into Nunavut.

Before you can board a plane to come to Nunavut, you will have to go into a mandatory 14-day isolation period in either Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton or Yellowknife.

At the end of the 14 days of isolation, people without symptoms will be cleared and able to return to their home community. This also includes medical travel patients.

Critical workers will have to provide written permission from the Nunavut Chief Public Health Officer to be allowed to fly into the territory.

Critical workers returning from another Canadian jurisdiction who do not have any symptoms and cleared will be allowed to resume work and travel in communities with the approval of the territorial health team.

Any critical workers from outside Canada will be required to isolate for 14 days prior coming to Nunavut.

Nunavut’s post-secondary students and their families currently studying outside the territory will go into a 14-day mandatory isolation period in either Ottawa or Winnipeg.

After the 14-day isolation, students will be chartered directly to their home community. These students have been contacted and are preparing for their isolation periods.

Accommodation, food and necessities for all travelers will be provided during the isolation period.

Please remember, the best way you can protect our community, our Elders and yourself is to stay at home and keep your distance from each other.

As we announced last week, QIA has implemented work-from-home procedures.

Our offices are closed until further notice.

 

If you need to receive essential services you can call us at 867-975-8400.

Or e-mail: info@qia.ca. You can also fax us at: 867-979-3238.

 

All QIA programs are suspended until further notice.

QIA is encouraging anyone who has a program funded by us to put that program on hold to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Timelines will be extended to allow you to deliver the programs in the future.

QIA also joins health authorities in encouraging Qikiqtani Inuit to protect yourself and your community.

 

The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to:

• Wash your hands often
• Cough and sneeze into your arm
• Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose or mouth
• Practice social distancing
  • This means avoiding getting together with others
  • Working from home if possible

Please be kind and check-up on Elders or vulnerable friends or family members who may need help. Call them or put groceries by their door but do not visit.

DO NOT FORGET to self-isolate if you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19.

These symptoms include as a fever, cough or trouble breathing.

If the symptoms get worse call your local health clinic. Do not go to a clinic without calling first.

I know that these are difficult time, but if we all work together; we can protect our communities.

Please visit our website at qia.ca for more information and daily updates.

You can also get the latest news and updates from our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Thank you very much for your time. Have a good day and stay safe.