A person from the community of Kuujjuaq died on November 19 from complications related to COVID-19. The Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (NRBHSS) offered its condolences to the family of this person on Wednesday, the first to lose their life due to the virus in northern Quebec.
Nunavik has been grappling with several outbreaks of COVID-19 in its communities since October.
On Wednesday, only 6 new active cases were reported for a total of 142. But this count does not fully reflect the reality. Because “for reasons beyond our control, in this specific case bad weather, the sample analysis time is significantly affected for the communities of Akulivik and Salluit,” notes the Régie in a press release.
As of Tuesday, the region had 157 active cases including 57 in Akulivik, 10 in Aupaluk, 1 in Kangirsuk, 14 in Kuujjuaq and 72 in Salluit and 3 in Tasiujaq. All these communities have been placed in the “red” or “orange” alert level. Curfews are in effect. Only one patient was hospitalized due to COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Nunavik currently reports an average of 154 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This is significantly more than in Estrie, the second most affected region in Quebec, where there are 21 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The NRBHSS publishes certain numbers for people in need of support:
- CLSC: 819-XXX-9090
- Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line: 1-800-265-3333 (Inuktitut / English)
- The NRBHSS Inuit Values and Practices team (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.): 1-877-686-2845 (Inuktitut / English)
- Awareness resources on the First Nations and Inuit Hope for the Well-Being Hotline: 1-855-242-3310 (English / French)