Health

In late 2019 a novel coronavirus started spreading from Wuhan, China, and by early 2020 the SARS-CoV-2 virus we now call Covid-19 had begun its spread across the world.The headlines and outbreaks were seen with increasing concern "for about two-and-a-half months" by public health officials all over Canada, including Nunavut's chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson, who watched it unfold.

The Government of Nunavut (GN) will not be releasing community-specific vaccination levels, citing a number of concerns, namely misinformation and stigma around the vaccine.

Working with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the Bank of Montreal (BMO) has delivered masks and sanitizing goods to Inuit communities, building on their existing relationships to get supplies where they are needed most.

On Friday, March 5 Lorne Kusugak, Nunavut's Health Minister announced to the Legislative Assembly that Covid-19 vaccinations for those in Iqaluit 18 or older will start on March 10."Mr. Speaker, this vaccine is safe. It has been tested. It cannot give you Covid-19. It is the best protection we have in Nunavut to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death," Kusugak said.