Nunavut extends its public health emergency to August

Nunavut's health minister has announced that the territory's public health emergency is extended for another two weeks.

The territory's residents will live under this COVID-19 emergency measure until Aug. 6, states a government news release sent Thursday. The government renewed this emergency measure last on July 9.

The order allows the government to make necessary restrictions to keep COVID-19 out of the territory, or from spreading should it surface.

Nunavut has not had any confirmed cases of the illness, and is the onlyremaining jurisdiction in Canada to have zero cases of COVID-19.

"The threat of COVID-19 remains a serious risk, and we must ensure we continue to bediligent," said Health Minister George Hickesin the news release Thursday.

"We are collectively responsible to one another and our communities, and we must staycommitted."

On Wednesday, the territory's chief public health officer confirmed that two presumptive cases recently discovered at Mary River Mine tested negative in a southern lab. A third presumptive case announced earlier in the month was also ultimately deemed negative.

Dr. Michael Patterson told CBC that the mine's three workers who had presumptive cases may have had COVID-19 in the past, and recovered.

The Northwest Territories also announced that it will extend its public health emergency Thursday.