3 more cases of COVID-19 reported in Nunavut, 2 connected to Iqaluit's Aqsarniit Middle School

The two cases of COVID-19 connected to Iqaluit's Aqsarniit Middle School are students, CBC News has learned, and as of Saturday afternoon, no decision had been made as to whether the school will be open Monday.

The territory announced three cases of COVID-19 Saturday.

In an email, Doug Workman, the chair of the Iqaluit District Education Authority, said the chief public health officer confirmed the two cases are both students and siblings.

Workman said the CPHO is expected to make a decision by Sunday as to whether the school will be open or closed.

School janitors have also been asked to come in and deep clean each classroom Sunday.

Parents, students and staff at the school who have been identified through tracing are being contacted, according to a statement posted to the government of Nunavut's Facebook page.

"The Department of Education's staged and cohort approach during the pandemic is intended exactly for this — to be able to trace, identify and contain potential spread of COVID-19," it read. 

The post urged residents to "stay calm" and "stay safe."

CBC News obtained a letter sent to staff and parents of students involved in contact tracing from the territory's manager for health and safety and emergency preparedness for the Department of Education, Brad McFaul.

"Both positive cases come from the same household and there is no evidence of school transmission," the letter read.   

"While Aqsarniit Middle School has operated under strict adherence to the COVID-19 safety risk mitigation measures, there is an increased risk of exposure."

It asks staff and parents to cooperate with public health officials.  

All three of the cases reported Saturday were in unvaccinated individuals, according to the government of Nunavut.

As of Saturday, there are a total of nine active cases in the territory, all in Iqaluit.