YELLOWKNIFE September 17, 2021 – September 20, 2021 is Election Day across Canada and the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) has worked closely with Elections Canada to ensure voting can occur in the safest manner possible across the Northwest Territories, including in the two communities currently under containment orders – Behchokǫ̀, and Whatì.
Masks are mandatory in all public indoor locations and citizens are responsible for maintaining two metres of distance between household groups. The OCPHO encourages voters to wait in their vehicles to help keep line ups and groups small. All voters are encouraged to cast their vote, exit the polling station and go home without lingering.
If you are required to self-isolate for any reason on Election Day you are not permitted attend a polling station to cast your vote. It is unfortunate that residents subject to isolation orders will not be able to vote on Election Day. Polling stations must be safe. To protect the health and safety of all residents during this outbreak, individuals under isolation orders must remain in isolation.
The OCPHO is announcing 30 new cases of COVID-19 in the NWT since September 16. The total number of recent cases has increased to 627. There are 243 active cases among residents in the territory plus five active out-of-territory cases and, and one previous death. A total of 378 cases have resolved - 371 NWT residents and seven out-of-territory cases.
Community Breakdown
| Region |
Community |
Total Active Case Count |
Recovered Case Count (Deaths) |
Total Case Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahtú |
Fort Good Hope |
5 |
108 (1) |
114 |
|
Colville Lake |
0 |
79 |
79 |
|
| Délı̨nę |
0 |
18 |
18 |
|
|
Norman Wells |
2 |
51 |
53 |
|
|
Tulita |
0 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
Beaufort Delta |
Inuvik |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Fort Smith |
Fort Smith |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Tłı̨chǫ | Gamètì |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Behchokǫ̀ |
46 |
0 |
46 |
|
|
|
Whatì |
33 |
0 |
33 |
|
South Slave |
Hay River & K'atl'odeeche First Nation |
5 |
4 |
9 |
|
Yellowknife/North Slave |
Yellowknife |
145 |
96 |
241 |
| Łutselk’e |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
Fort Resolution |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
Dehcho |
Fort Providence |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
Fort Simpson |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Fort Liard |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
Worksites |
Gahcho Kué Mine |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Diavik Diamond Mine |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
Ekati Diamond Mine |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Snare Hydro System worksite |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
| Imperial Oil | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
|
TOTAL |
248 |
378 (1) |
627 |
|
Hospitalizations
Cumulative number of hospitalizations since the start of the pandemic is 26, of which 22 are associated with the current territorial COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak. Cumulative ICU admissions have been 7.
Check the NWT COVID-19 Dashboard for further details about percentage of unvaccinated cases and Variant of Concern updates.
Public Health Exposure Locations for Sept 17, 2021
|
Exposure Location |
Date(s)/Time range(s) |
Required Action(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Capitol Theatre (Yellowknife) |
September 14 7:00PM – 10:00PM |
Anyone who was in the movie theatre featuring Malignant or in the common spaces before and after the movie should self-monitor. If symptoms develop, immediately self-isolate, and arrange testing. |
Communities that are currently experiencing community transmission: Yellowknife, Behchokǫ̀, and Whatì.
- Any public place could result in an exposure to COVID-19. The OCPHO will not provide routine public exposure notifications in Yellowknife but will list high risk public exposures requiring further action.
- OCPHO will continue to list public exposures in communities without known community transmission.
The CPHO advises against non-essential travel to and from Behchokǫ̀, Dettah, N’Dilo, Whatì and Yellowknife at this time to protect against transmission to other communities.
Visit our website for a full list of all CURRENT public exposure notifications.
Click to view ALL current Public Health Orders
Health Service Updates
Third dose vaccinations now offered for some individuals.
The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) is now recommending a third dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for people who are severely immunocompromised and essential front-line health care workers at high-risk of exposure in Yellowknife and Behchokǫ̀ (prioritized for a third dose due to the ongoing COVID outbreak in these areas). Visit the NTHSSA website for more information about criteria and booking.(link is external)
Additional Recommendations/Advice
A temporary day and overnight shelter at the Yellowknife Community Arena opened this evening staffed by the Canadian Red Cross and GNWT staff. The shelter will provide food, washrooms, showers, bedding and cots to underhoused members of the Yellowknife community. It is anticipated that the arena will operate until regular shelter services resume at the Day Shelter and Sobering Centre in the downtown core.
Cases continue to occur due to importation from southern parts of Canada. If you travelled or are planning to travel outside of the NWT and have returned home please keep in mind that there are self-isolation requirements for any unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers that return to the NWT.
Visit our website to review the types of isolation and what the requirements are for the various types.
If you are travelling internally within the NWT from an area with community transmission (Yellowknife, Behchokǫ̀, and Whatì) to another community it is recommended that you complete Day 1 and Day 8 testing at your destination. Please contact the health centre of the community you are arriving into, prior to leaving, to arrange testing. Click here for information on how to arrange testing.
The CPHO recommends that where possible businesses accommodate work from home arrangements for their employees for the duration of the amended September 9, 2021 order restricting gatherings
Attribution
All commentary is attributable to Dr. Kami Kandola, Chief Public Health Officer for the Northwest Territories.
Relevant links
- NWT COVID-19 Dashboard(link is external)
- GNWT Daily COVID-19 Symptom Check
- Travel Hotspots
- Delta Variant FAQs
- GNWT COVID-19 website
- Vaccination Bookings(link is external)
Media Contact
Richard Makohoniuk
Manager, COVID Communications
COVID-19 Coordinating Secretariat
Department of Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
richard_makohoniuk@gov.nt.ca