Nunavik, Quebec further eases COVID-19 health restrictions
Health authorities further lifted COVID-19 restrictions in Nunavik, northern Quebec, on February 21, continuing the gradual easing of public health guidelines across the region.
“As long as the epidemiological situation is kept under control and healthcare centers can continue to provide appropriate healthcare, sanitary measures could be alleviated more quickly to come back to a more normal and less restrictive way of living,” the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (NRBHSS) said in a Facebook post on Friday.
Although masks are still mandatory, as of Monday, indoor funerals with up to 50 attendees can now be held without requiring vaccination passports.
If vaccine passports are used, up to 250 people, or 50 per cent of the building’s capacity, are able to attend.
This week’s measures follow an easing last week on restrictions for things like restaurant dining and extracurricular activities.
‘Cautious’ reopening to be closely monitored
Health authorities say the incremental loosening of rules gives the region the best chance of getting back to normal without causing infections to re-spike.
“It is essential to remain cautious and follow step-by step Public Health’s de-confinement plan, to allow a safe transition,” the NRBHSS said.
Since the Omicron wave hit Nunavik with a first reported infection on October 17, there’s been 1850 confirmed cases as of February 16.
Of those, 39 people were hospitalized, and 15 ended up dying with COVID-19.
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn@cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: More restrictions to ease as Canada’s Yukon territory heads ‘down the other side’ of Omicron peak, Eye on the Arctic
