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Measures taken in March – Last March, when borders around the world were closed, Nunavut officials decided they wouldn’t take any chances either. They then introduced some of the strictest travel regulations in Canada, banning almost all non-residents from entering. However, returning residents are forced to spend two weeks in exclusive hotels, in the cities of Winnipeg, Yellowknife, Ottawa or Edmonton, at government expense and controlled by guards before returning. To date, just over 7 thousand nunavummiut they spent time in these isolation centers.
In addition, masks are mandatory throughout the territory despite the lack of cases. “The rather drastic decision to introduce these measures was made due to both the potential vulnerability of the population to Covid-19 and the unique challenges of the Arctic region,” says Dr. Michael Patterson, chief of public health for Nunavut.
The Inuit, in fact, make up more than 80% of the territory’s population. And many Inuit communities, in Nunavut and elsewhere, are potentially at risk for various reasons. These include inadequate and unsafe living conditions and high rates of overcrowding, as well as the high probability of contracting tuberculosis.
Natural insulation – The approximately 36 thousand people that inhabit the area are divided into 25 communities spread over its two million square kilometers. The distances are “staggering at times,” admits Dr. Patterson. Therefore, it is likely that natural isolation is part of the reason for the lack of cases.
However, there has now been a slight easing of the measures compared to March. But the attention is always high. Dr. Patterson, for example, does not believe that Nunavut will be free of coronavirus cases forever. “I would not have bet that it would remain Covid-free for that long.”
Difficulties – Isolation can help, but it can also create obstacles. In fact, most Nunavut communities do not have the ability to swab locally. When the possibility exists, the times to obtain the results are long. Efforts are currently underway to improve the testing situation.
Additionally, medical resources in the area are limited. The hospital of Iqaluit, the capital, with 35 beds, could treat about 20 Covid-19 patients, estimates Dr. Patterson. In the event of an outbreak, “people who need treatment or who are hospitalized will have to be transferred to other hospitals.”
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