The COVID-19 variant Omicron has started to circulate in Nunavik, raising fears of an upsurge in cases, the region’s health authorities announced Thursday.
While Nunavik is barely recovering from the outbreaks of cases linked to the Delta variant, the remote region of northern Quebec must now face the arrival of Omicron, even more contagious.
As of Thursday, 11 new cases testing positive for COVID-19 were reported for a total of 19 active cases. Given the contagiousness of the Omicron variant, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (NRBHSS) asks the population “to be careful and to respect the measures in place to slow the spread”.
It should be remembered that the Delta variant had already wreaked havoc in Nunavik by causing more than 1,000 infections in less than two months (since the beginning of October), in this population of approximately 12,000 permanent residents.
Warning levels in place
Kangiqsualujjuaq is the most affected community with 12 active cases so far.
“There is a threat not only to the population, but also to our health system, warns the NRBHSS. Our regular service corridors are severely compromised and the southern health system is overloaded. ”
The NRBHSS also affirms that limiting travel between southern Quebec and Nunavik is one of the measures being considered to delay new outbreaks.
Nunavik uses color alert levels (green, yellow, orange, orange + and red) which guide the health instructions between the different communities. Since Monday, the communities of Salluit and Akulivik are considered to be at high risk, ie at the red level. These communities are put on hiatus, with all non-essential locations closed and non-essential activities suspended. A curfew has also been introduced.
Travel not recommended
Only fully vaccinated people can enter Nunavik at this time. A 10-day quarantine is now required “for travelers from the south […] who did not receive their booster dose (3e dose) for at least 14 days, ”says the NRBHSS press release released on Thursday.
Travelers must also present the result of a negative screening test at the airport within 48 hours to 72 hours before arriving in Nunavik.
Non-essential travel, however, is strongly discouraged, including between communities. They are prohibited in orange + and red alert communities.