Nunavut extends its public health emergency for 2 more weeks

The Nunavut government has extended its public health emergency for another two weeks into mid-October.

The COVID-19 emergency measure will be in place until Oct. 15, according to Nunavut's Health minister George Hickes in a government news release issuedThursday, when the last order was set to expire.

All existing measures under the public health emergency order remain in effect, the release says.

The order allows the government to make restrictions to keep COVID-19 out of the territoryand from spreading should it surface.It's the 14th time the emergency measure has been extended.

Nunavut has not had any confirmed cases of the illness, and is the only remaining jurisdiction in Canada to have zero cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic, which started in March.

According to the government's latest numbers, 2,981 people have been tested for the virus, and 465 people are currently waiting for their results.

The news release reminded Nunavummiut to physically distance, wash their hands frequently and stay home if they're unwell. Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should self-isolate immediately.

People can call the government's hotline at 1-888-975-8601 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., or notify their local health centre.