Question Period Note: COVID-19 Cases in Nunavut

• The health and wellbeing of Nunavut residents remains our top priority.

• As of November 16, 2020, there are 26 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nunavut residents and while there are signs of community transmission in Arviat, there are no such signs in Rankin Inlet or Sanikiluaq.

• The Government of Nunavut’s Rapid Response Teams are on the ground in all three impacted communities for contact tracing and containment.

• ISC remains ready to support partners as new needs arise.

Prior to November 6, 2020, there were no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nunavut residents. There were cases in various mines throughout the territory, however, they were not attributed to Nunavut’s COVID-19 statistics as the workers with COVID-19 were from different Canadian jurisdictions.

On November 6, 2020, the Government of Nunavut reported its first case of COVID-19 in a resident of Sanikiluaq. As of November 16, 2020 there are 26 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nunavut residents. Specifically, there are 19 in Arviat, 4 in Rankin Inlet, 2 in Sanikiluaq, and 1 in an Arviat resident who is in isolation in the south.

Currently, there are signs of community transmission in Arviat, but not in Rankin Inlet or Sanikiluaq. Anyone from Arviat who left the community on or after November 2 is being asked to immediately isolate for 14 days wherever they are. Travel is being restricted between Kivalliq communities to emergency and cargo flights only, and hunters are asked not to travel to neighbouring communities. The Government of Nunavut’s Rapid Response Teams are on the ground in all three impacted communities for contact tracing and containment.

If pressed on support to the territory
• While the territorial government is responsible for the delivery of health care in Nunavut, the Government of Canada continues to work with territorial partners to provide assistance as required. The Government of Canada’s system is preparing to support with surge capacity should the situation worsen.

• Starting November 18, there is a mandatory, territory-wide restriction period for at least 2 weeks. Health Centres are closed except for emergencies.

• The infected individuals are all doing well and continuing to isolate and recover at home.
Health services in the North

• We are working with territorial and Indigenous partners to advance the health and safety of First Nations and Inuit in the North.

• While territorial governments are responsible for the delivery of health care in the territories, we work in partnership to ensure First Nations and Inuit have access to the culturally safe supports and services, including on the land activities.

• In 2020/21, we are allocating $35.1 million to support mental health programming and services in all 72 First Nations and Inuit communities in the three territories.
If Pressed on health services in the North during COVID-19:

• Our government is supporting Indigenous communities to implement culturally relevant emergency measures to promote on the land physical distancing.

• In addition to the $35.1M, on August 25, 2020, ISC announced $82.5 million in mental health and wellness supports, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, of which $10.6 million of this funding will be allocated across the three territories.
• In response to COVID-19, a pan-territorial Indigenous working group is in place and will continue to work with Indigenous partners to help them protect their health and safety during this pandemic.