Daily Update - September 7, 2021

Case Counts as of 12:00 pm

YELLOWKNIFE September 7, 2021 – The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) is declaring an outbreak of COVID-19 amongst the underhoused and vulnerable population in Yellowknife.  People that are underhoused and utilize shelters have a much higher risk of COVID-19 exposures.  This is a strongly connected community that provides support to one another in many ways and often uses multiple facilities to find shelter on a day to day basis.  COVID-19 infections are now impacting one of the Northwest Territories’ (NWT) most at risk populations. 

Since mid-August the OCPHO confirms that 19 people who accessed shelters have been infected with COVID-19.  Based on information obtained during the contact tracing investigation the OCPHO has identified multiple exposure sites where people likely acquired their infection including the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Camp, Salvation Army, Sobering Centre and isolation centres. 

The OCPHO is aware of 10 health care and shelter support workers who have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Due to the cumulative number of COVID-19 infections in Yellowknife from this outbreak and through other chains of transmission the OCPHO has determined that any public location should be considered as a possible exposure site.

In response to this outbreak the COVID-19 Coordinating Secretariat, OCPHO and the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority have:

  • Found alternative isolation facilities for individuals and contacts that utilize shelters and are diagnosed with COVID-19
  • Provided testing and vaccination at shelter locations
  • Provided additional wrap around supports to help people isolate safely
  • Introduced measures to prevent exposures in shelters that included screening for symptoms and mandating wearing masks and PPE for onsite health care workers

The OCPHO will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. 

The OCPHO is announcing 24 new cases of COVID-19 in the NWT since September 3rd.  The total number of recent cases has increased to 395. There are 111 active cases among residents in the territory plus three active out of territory cases and, one previous death.  A total of 280 cases have resolved - 276 NWT residents and four out of territory cases. 

Community Breakdown

Region

Community

Total Active Case Count

Recovered Case Count (Deaths)

Total Case Count

Sahtu

Fort Good Hope

25

86 (1)

112

Colville Lake

0

79

79

Deline

6

12

18

Norman Wells

9

44

53

Tulita

6

0

6

Beaufort Delta

Inuvik

0

2

2

Fort Smith

Fort Smith

0

1

1

Tlicho

Gameti

1

2

3

South Slave

Hay River & K'atl'odeeche First Nation

1

3

4

Yellowknife/North Slave

Yellowknife

64

47

111

Dehcho

Fort Providence

2

2

4

Fort Simpson

0

2

2

TOTAL

114

280 (1)

395

Cumulative Hospitalizations since the start of the pandemic is 16 and total ICU admissions have been 6.  Twelve (12) hospitalizations have been associated with the current situation. Ninety percent of the first 10 hospitalizations were non-fully vaccinated.   

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 Sept 7, 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.

Exposure Notice – September 6

Exposure Location

Date(s)/Time Range(s)

Required Action(s)

NWT Courthouse (Yellowknife)

September 1 - 3

Anyone indoors at the NWT Courthouse for more than 10 minutes during these dates should self-monitor for symptoms. 

 

If symptoms develop, immediately isolate and contact a health care provider or Yellowknife Public Health to arrange for testing.

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

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

NTHSSA continues to monitor and adjust service levels as required to ensure adequate resources are available for the COVID-19 response.  See www.nthssa.ca/service-levels for the latest details. 

Supports in community

If you travelled outside of the NWT over the holiday weekend 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

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