Daily Update - August 24, 2021

News Type: 
Past COVID-19 Advisories

Case Counts as of 12:00 pm

YELLOWKNIFE August 24, 2021 – Earlier today the Office of Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) announced the first COVID-19 related death in the Northwest Territories.  The OCPHO is announcing 7 new cases of COVID-19 in the NWT since August 23rd.  The total number of recent cases has increased to 227.  There are 225 active cases among residents in the territory, one death and one out of territory case.

Community Breakdown

Region

Community

Total Case Count

Sahtu

Fort Good Hope

89

Colville Lake

74

Deline

9

Norman Wells

22

Beaufort Delta

Inuvik

1

Fort Smith

Fort Smith

1

South Slave

Hay River & K'atl'odeeche First Nation

1

 

Yellowknife/North Slave

Yellowknife

27

Fort Providence

3

TOTAL

227

Hospitalizations are less than 5.

Check the NWT COVID-19 Dashboard for further details about percentage of unvaccinated cases and Variant of Concern updates.

https://nwt-covid.shinyapps.io/Testing-and-Cases/?lang=1

New Public Health Exposure Locations for Aug. 24, 2021

For a full list of all CURRENT public exposure notifications: https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/en/services/public-exposure-notifications

Location

Dates

Required Action(s)

 Behchokǫ

  • Wastewater Signal Detected

August 20, 21, 22, 23

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 in Behchoko:

  • Self-Isolate immediately and call the health centre arrange testing

If you were in Behchokǫ between Aug 20 – 23:

  • Call your local health centre to arrange testing.

 

Two Seasons Campground,

Hay River BBQ

August 21

7:00PM – 8:00PM

Self monitor. Wear a mask in all public places. 

 

If symptoms develop, immediately self-isolate and arrange testing.

Rings Drugstore

August 20

2:15PM – 2:45PM

Self monitor. Wear a mask in all public places. 

 

If symptoms develop, immediately self-isolate and arrange testing.

Super A Grocery Store

August 20

11:00AM – 11:45AM and

1:00PM – 1:45PM

Self monitor. Wear a mask in all public places. 

 

If symptoms develop, immediately self-isolate and arrange testing.

Public Health Orders:

https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/en/current-public-health-orders

Norman Wells

Self-isolation requirements are in place for persons who test positive for COVID-19 and those sharing accommodations with them, persons who are a contact of a person who tests positive and persons who have symptoms of COVID-19.

The OCPHO will issue a local containment order for Norman Wells to take effect as of August 25th at 8:00AM. The Public Health Order is pursuant to s.25 of the Public Health Act and mandates containment measures for 10 days to prevent further COVID-19 transmission.

The order is similar to recent Public Health Containment Orders for Fort Good Hope and Colville Lake. Effective today and continuing for 10 days, the following measures are in effect within Norman Wells:

  • No gatherings at any time in homes or in public places. Exceptions include people caring for others in their homes or who provide regularly scheduled childcare.
  • No gathering outdoors with anyone you do not live with.
  • Non-essential businesses and facilities must close – including community centres and schools.
  • Essential businesses and facilities shall remain open with no more than 10 persons permitted in an indoor location at one time.
  • Offices may remain open provided they have no more than 10 persons in an indoor location, and physical distance of 2 metres can be maintained.
  • Daycares may remain open to the children of essential workers only.
  • All persons shall wear masks in any public indoor spaces, unless otherwise approved by the Chief Public Health Officer. For more information see “if there is a masking order”: https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/en/services/vaccination-testing/isolation-those-diagnosed-exposed-or-tested-covid-19
  • All non-essential businesses and facilities, including community and youth centres, and schools must close. Under the containment order, essential businesses and facilities which may remain open are:
    • grocery stores (curbside pick-up is encouraged)
    • gas stations and convenience stores
    • facilities offering health services, social support services, and childcare services (including home-based childcare). Daycares may remain open for the children of essential workers only.
    • food banks
    • greenhouses
    • post offices
    • pharmacies
    • banks
    • liquor stores
    • workplaces where persons are engaged in the provision of essential services including but not limited to, peace officers and others employed for the preservation and maintenance of the public peace, emergency responders, municipal enforcement officers, community government essential service workers, and territorial parks officers; and
    • workplaces where persons are engaged in the construction of public and Indigenous infrastructure projects and the mineral and petroleum resources industry.
  • Essential businesses or facilities shall follow any further directions or orders of the Chief Public Health Officer as may be provided from time to time.

Fort Good Hope/Colville Lake

The CPHO has issued a local containment order for Fort Good Hope and Colville Lake. The Public Health Order is pursuant to s.25 of the Public Health Act and mandates containment measures for 10 days to prevent further COVID-19 transmission.

Self-Isolation instructions for residents: https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/en/residents-fort-good-hope-and-colville-lake-who-are-currently-those-communities

Health Service Updates

Anyone who has been exposed to COVID or has COVID symptoms who requires care or services should call in advance. Please do not show up at the health centre to request testing. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 self-isolate at home and call ahead for testing. Anyone who is identified as a contact who needs testing will be contacted, everyone should review the exposure notices and follow the advice required whether that’s masking, self-isolating, or getting tested.

It’s important to remember that the rapid response team is not the only resource in communities. They are sent in to quickly stand up outbreak responses and add resources - people, additional testing supplies and equipment - to assist local staff with implementing and refining the processes we’ve created in preparation for outbreaks like this. When this group leaves, the response doesn’t stop – and teams will be moved around to add capacity where required. Our current focus is on testing, contact tracing and issuing to exposure notifications to the public, in order to limit the spread of the virus.

Current Service Level Update: https://www.nthssa.ca/en/newsroom/public-notice-service-level-updates-sahtu-dehcho-and-yellowknife-regions

Supports in community

These measures are not easy.

The GNWT is working with all communities affected to support emergency response needs in the event residents need support during this time.

Assisting northerners manage their mental health is important as we continue to respond the COVID-19 pandemic. If you wish to speak with someone the NWT Community Counselling Program provides on-the-ground access to mental health services in all of the regions. For more information or to contact the counselor in your community please visit our website: https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/nwt-community-counselling-program-ccp.

Residents who unable to access support with non-healthcare related needs throughout their self-isolation period can reach out to their community government for assistance.
Regional EMOs are working with community governments to address needs as they arise.

Attribution

All commentary is attributable to Dr. Kami Kandola, Chief Public Health Officer for the Northwest Territories.

Relevant links

Media Contact

Dawn Ostrem

Manager, COVID Communications

COVID-19 Coordinating Secretariat

Department of Health and Social Services

Government of the Northwest Territories

dawn_ostrem@gov.nt.ca