The Mayor of Makkovik says residents in the area were shocked to learn of the presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in the community.

Late Wednesday evening, the Nunatsiavut Government announced a presumptive positive case in Makkovik connected to recent travel from the St. John’s-metro area, where an outbreak has been caused by the UK variant of the virus.

The presumptive test is being sent to St. John’s today for confirmation.

Mayor Barry Andersen says although people were shocked, the news isn’t totally unexpected as sometimes people do not have a choice but to travel to St. John’s for various, essential reasons.

However, even if the test is confirmed to be positive, Andersen says there is some good news as the bulk of people have been vaccinated.

Andersen says on the plus side, Makkovik is one of the few communities fully inoculated for those 18 years of age and older and says they’ve had an uptake of some 74 per cent of those who are eligible to be vaccinated with their second dose.

He hopes that will help contain the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, all flights to and from the community have been suspended until further notice with the exception of medical emergencies.

As well, residents are being asked to stay in their homes and only interact with their household bubbles. Under no circumstances are residents to travel to other communities by snowmobile.

Andersen says plans are in the works to have all residents of Makkovik tested for COVID-19 beginning today.