Nunavut: A Canadian paradise that coronavirus could not touch

As coronavirus cases continue to surge all across the world, including Canada, Nunavut remains the only region in the North American country to be free from the infection, reported BBC. This can be credited to the region’s prompt action in sealing the borders in March, with officials deciding to take no risks.

The officials, in what may be called one of the strictest travel rules in Canada, barred almost all non-residents from entering Nunavut, the BBC report says.

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Nunavut’s chief public health officer Dr Michael Patterson told BBC that the population’s “potential vulnerability” to the coronavirus, as well as the challenges faced in the Arctic region prompted the authorities in making such strict provisions. The Inuit community of the Nunavut region, which make up for the 80% of the population, are at risk of contracting the virus more, BBC reported. 

The challenges do not end at this. The tests also had to be flown “in and out” of the region, due to the lack of testing facilities in Nunavut, according to the report.

However, the authority’s early decision of sealing the borders seem to have done the job. Those who indeed flew in to the region had to undergo a two-week quarantine period, at the government facilities, which are hotels in the cities of Winnipeg, Yellowknife, Ottawa or Edmonton, reports BBC.

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To date, no one among the 36,000 people at Nunavut have officially tested positive for coronavirus, even after their potential risk.

On the other hand, as of October 19, 191,414 Canadians tested positive for COVID-19.