The Government of Nunavut released the Nunavut’s Path: Living with COVID-19 guide on Aug. 3, bringing together lessons learned from virus outbreaks in Nunavut and those learned from the pandemic in general.
The document will be used to support Nunavut in its transition from a pandemic response to a longer-term plan toward treating COVID-19 as a vaccine-preventable disease.
“What we’ve learned since the beginning of the pandemic, including out response and testing capacity, as well as the availability of a safe and effective vaccines, now allows us to take a step forward and adjust how COVID-19 is managed in the territory,” said Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s chief public health officer. “While certain risks remain, we are no longer as limited in our options or in the choices we make to keep Nunavummiut safe.”
This serves as an update from the previous Nunavut’s Path released on March 20, 2020, which was designed as a guide toward easing restrictions during the first year of the pandemic.
Read more: Nunavut’s Path - Living with COVID-19
Until Nunavummiut of all ages have the opportunity to be vaccinated, there will remain a certain level of public health measures that will continue to be necessary to act as a safety net for the territory’s communities.
The new Nunavut’s Path will be guided by:
- Community vaccine uptake;
- The status of COVID-19 in Nunavut;
- The status of vaccination rates and of COVID-19 cases in neighbouring jurisdictions;
- Nunavut’s testing and response capacity;
- The emergence of, and vaccine effectiveness on, variants of concern.
“As Nunavut works to a time when COVID-19 public health emergencies will no longer be necessary, it will be the actions of all Nunavummiut that determine our success,” said Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq.
“Everyone should make choices that will help keep our families, friends and communities safe. Get vaccinated, follow public health measures and stay home if sick.”