Nunavut minister says rapid testing, isolation at home can't replace isolation in southern hotels

Nunavut's health minister says the territorial government is looking at other ways Nunavummiut can quarantine besides having to stay in hotels in the South. But he says rapid testing for COVID-19 isn't going tosolve the issue.

"We don't want to play with fire and we don't want to play with COVID-19 in the territory. Andanybody that has been tested is required to self-isolate until such time as those results come in," said Health Minister George Hickes.

In the legislature on Monday, Pat Angnakak, MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, askedabout the costs for the government associated with required isolation for travellers coming into the territory.

Specifically, Angnakakasked whether the costs of rapid testing and isolation at home has been compared to the cost of paying for people to isolate in hotels in the South.

"Our government has spent millions of dollars on operating isolation hubs outside of Nunavut," she said. "Can the minister clearly explain why alternative options for travellers to Nunavut are not being implemented?"

Angnakak citedrapid testing as one alternative option, where results can bedelivered sooner.

Angnakak added that Greenland is doing things for much cheaper, aspeople haveto show proof of a negative test upon arrival, then go into self-isolation before takinganother test. If the follow-up test is negative, the personno longer hasto isolate.

Angnakaksaid she wants to know if the minister has considered a similar protocol for travellers to Nunavut.

Overcrowding, false sense of security

ButHickes says those options aren't necessarily possible inNunavut.

While the government has been looking into models from all around the world, including Greenland's model, Hickes saidthe risk is "too great to go down that path."

That's especially so, sincehe says issues with homelessness and overcrowding in Nunavut means not everyone can properly self-isolate.

"It would be very difficult for every member of our society to be able to self-isolate when they came home and to do so safely," Hickes said.

He added that rapid testing gives a "false sense of security" and could lead to community transmission.

Hickes saidthe government is "exploring ways to minimize" theimpact of COVID-19 on the territoryand is looking at options to shorten isolation stays using rapid testing.