Greenland reports 16 new COVID-19 cases, including two nursing home residents
Greenland reported 16 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, two of which are nursing home residents.
Ten of the new cases, including the infections in the seniors’ residence, are in Sisimiut, a city of 5,582 on Greenland’s west coast.
In a news release, the government said the two residents were fully vaccinated and had not gotten sick.
Three nursing home workers also tested positive for the virus.
“It’s worrying that the infection has reached the most vulnerable citizens in a seniors’ residence,” Greenland’s chief medical officer Henrik L. Hansen said.
“Fortunately, the vaccination rate at the nursing home is very high, and it may prove to be of crucial importance in this situation.”
Health authorities say they’ve been unable to trace several infection chains in the city and warned community transmission is still underway.
Infection in capital city
One of the new cases was in the capital city of Nuuk. The individual had contact with an infected person, however the origin of the initial case has not been established.
“With the recent cases we’ve seen, there’s a risk of wider societal transmission in Nuuk, just like in Sisimiut,” Hansen said
“There’s every reason to be vigilant, Keep your distance, avoid meetings and wash your hands often.”
The five remaining cases are in the town of Upernavik and were all in the same household.
As of Wednesday, Greenland’s National Board of Health was reporting 102 total active COVID-19 cases.
Seventy of those are located in the Qeqqata municipality in the western part of the island were Sisimiut is located.
Write to Eilís at eilis.quinn@cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Nunavut suspends travel bubble with N.W.T. following COVID-19 outbreak in Sahtu region of northern Canada, CBC News
Iceland: New COVID-19 border testing regulations coming to Iceland on August 16, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Berry firms moved harvesters from Lapland to East Finland even if exposed to, infected with COVID-19, Yle News
United States: Cruise ship arrives in Skagway, Alaska after passenger flown home with COVID-19, CBC News
