YELLOWKNIFE September 8, 2021 – Along with the gathering limitations outlined in the Public Health Order (PHO) released today, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) is recommending that where possible all non-essential employees in Behchokǫ̀, Dettah, Ndilǫ and Yellowknife work from home for the duration of the order.  The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is following this advice and starting tomorrow, Thursday, September 9 all non-essential employees will be working remotely.

The OCPHO is announcing 18 new cases of COVID-19 in the NWT since September 7th. The total number of recent cases has increased to 413. There are 107 active cases among residents in the territory plus three active out of territory cases and, one previous death. A total of 302 cases have resolved - 298 NWT residents and four out of territory cases. 

Community Breakdown

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 8, 2021

Communities that are currently experiencing community transmission: 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.

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

This morning the OCPHO announced new 14-day temporary gathering restrictions that went into effect at 5PM today.  These measures are in effect for Behchokǫ̀, Dettah, Ndilǫ and Yellowknife until September 22 at 11:59PM. 

Details of the order were released this morning and can be found on our website: https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/en/newsroom/public-health-advisory-september-8-2021.

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. 

The CPHO recommends that where possible businesses accommodate work from home arrangements for their employees for the duration of the September 8, 2021 order restricting gatherings.

Health Service Updates

Service Level Update for Stanton and Yellowknife Region

In order to accommodate the redirection of resources to COVID-19 response efforts a number of services may see changes in processes, delays or cancellations. 

Any individual who has a procedure or appointment that is impacted will be contacted directly. 

For more information please see the Public Notice on the NTHSSA website:

https://www.nthssa.ca/en/newsroom/public-notice-service-level-update-stanton-and-yellowknife-region.

Yellowknife COVID Testing Hours Extended
Yellowknife residents are encouraged to book COVID-19 tests online as walk-ins may be turned away. Testing clinic hours have been extended in Yellowknife, from September 9th through the 12th to allow for an increased volume of bookings. For more information and the link to the online booking tool please visit our website: https://www.nthssa.ca/en/newsroom/public-notice-yellowknife-covid-19-testing-update-september-9-12.
 

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

• NWT COVID-19 Dashboard
• GNWT Daily COVID-19 Symptom Check
• Travel Hotspots
• Delta Variant FAQs
• GNWT COVID-19 website
• Vaccination Bookings

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