Case Counts as of 12:00 pm

YELLOWKNIFE September 1, 2021 – The daily Public Health Advisory (PHA) will not be distributed over the weekend unless urgent public communications are required due to a high risk exposure situation or other emergency. The next scheduled PHA will be distributed on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.

The Office of Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) is announcing 16 new cases of COVID-19 in the NWT since September 2nd.  The total number of recent cases has increased to 373. There are 136 active cases among residents in the territory plus four active out of territory cases and, one previous death.  A total of 232 cases have resolved - 230 NWT residents and two out of territory cases.  After further information became available in the case investigation five (5) previously identified probable cases were removed from our reported numbers.

Community Breakdown

Cumulative Hospitalizations since the start of the pandemic is 11, of which seven are associated with the current situation. Ninety percent of the first 10 hospitalizations were unvaccinated.   

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(link is external)

New Public Health Exposure Locations for September 3, 2021

Communities that are currently experiencing community transmission: Norman Wells and Yellowknife. 

• 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.

An outbreak of COVID-19 has occurred at École St. Patrick High School.  Today three additional individuals have tested positive for COVID-19.  So far, no fully vaccinated individuals are part of this outbreak.  The school administration is aware and letters have been sent out to parents as needed.  Public Health is investigating and contact tracing is underway.  Known contacts that are vaccinated will be advised to arrange testing and continue on with classroom learning while monitoring for symptoms.  

Following the advice of the OCPHO, all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated grade 10 students are required to shift to remote learning and isolate for 10 days.  They are encouraged to arrange testing and monitor for symptoms.

An additional individual, unlinked to this cluster, tested positive at École Sir John Franklin School.  Public health, working together with school administration, has notified the parents.

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

Public Health Orders

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

NWT Wide Order

A NWT wide masking order went into effect on August 26th that applies to all indoor public spaces. 

A visual explanation of the order can be viewed on our website: https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/sites/covid/files/resources/cv19_indoor_public_spaces.pdf

Norman Wells

An update to the Public Health Order went into effect September 1, 2021 at 6:00PM.  This extends the local containment order for an additional 10 days through to 11:59 PM on September 14, 2021.  

The order updates isolation requirements for people who have tested positive for COVID-19, their contacts and anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19. 

For additional information please review the PHO here:

https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/en/effective-september-1-2021-norman-wells-temporary-c ovid-19-restrictions

Fort Good Hope/Colville Lake

Local containment orders will end tomorrow night, September 4, at 11:59PM.  
In Fort Good Hope a number of cases remain active. Though the containment order will expire residents that are currently self-isolating due to a positive COVID-19 test must continue to do so until they are deemed recovered by their health care professional.  

Residents that are self-isolating and monitoring their symptoms as contacts must finish their 10-day self-isolation period.  

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

Yellowknife

The CPHO advises against non-essential travel to and from Yellowknife at this time to protect against transmission to other communities.  

Health Service Updates

COVID Testing Clinic @ Norman Wells Community Hall – Sept 3 – 5
The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority will be operating a dedicated off-site COVID-19 testing clinic in Norman Wells from Friday September 3rd through Sunday September 5th, from 10am to 7pm daily.
Full details available through the link: https://www.nthssa.ca/en/newsroom/public-notice-covid-testing-clinic-nor...

Current Service Level Update: 

https://www.nthssa.ca/en/newsroom/public-notice-service-level-updates-sahtu-dehcho-and-yellowknife-regions(link is external)

Supports in Community

Northerners are getting ready to celebrate a long weekend that many will use to travel, in some instances outside of the territory. The healthy habits advice and guidance provided over the past few weeks should follow you in your travels.  Wear a mask in indoor public places, maintain social distancing, avoid large gatherings and wash your hands frequently.  

All northerners are encouraged to evaluate the risk of visiting COVID hot spots outside of the NWT.  Hotspots in Canada are outlined on our website: 

https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/en/hotspots-canada.  

Please keep in mind that there are self-isolation requirements for any unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers that return to the NWT.

Assisting northerners manage their mental health is important as we continue to respond to 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

• NWT COVID-19 Dashboard(link is external)
• Travel Hotspots
• Delta Variant FAQs
• GWNT 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