Daily Update - September 9, 2021

News Type: 
Past COVID-19 Advisories

YELLOWKNIFE September 9, 2021 – The OCPHO is announcing 20 new cases of COVID-19 in the NWT since September 8th. The total number of recent cases has increased to 436. There are 121 active cases among residents in the territory plus three active out of territory cases and, one previous death. A total of 311 cases have resolved - 307 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

12

99 (1)

112

Colville Lake

0

79

79

Deline

1

17

18

Norman Wells

5

49

54

Tulita

9

0

9

Beaufort Delta

Inuvik

0

2

2

Fort Smith

Fort Smith

0

1

1

Tlicho

Gameti

1

2

3

Behchokǫ̀

11

0

11

South Slave

Hay River & K'atl'odeeche First Nation

0

4

4

Yellowknife/North Slave

Yellowknife

83

54

137

Dehcho

Fort Providence

2

2

4

Fort Simpson

0

2

2

TOTAL

124

311 (1)

436

Cumulative Hospitalizations since the start of the pandemic is 17, of which 13 are associated with the current situation. Total ICU admissions have been 6.  

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 Sept 9, 2021

Communities that are currently experiencing community transmission: Yellowknife and Behchokǫ̀.

  • 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

Behchokǫ̀

This morning at 8:00AM the OCPHO implemented a new 14-day containment order for the community of Behchokǫ̀. All indoor and outdoor gatherings are restricted, non-essential workers must work from home, schools are closed and learning is moved online among other restrictions.  This order will be in effect until 11:59PM on September 23, 2021. 

Details of the order can be found on our website: https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/sites/covid/files/resources/public_health_order_-_behchoko_temporary_covid-19_restrictions.pdf

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

Dettah, N’Dilo and Yellowknife

Yesterday evening the OCPHO amended the Public Health Order on temporary gathering restrictions to exclude Behchokǫ̀ from the order. The 14-day temporary gathering restrictions are in effect for 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/sites/covid/files/resources/public_health_order_-_gathering_restrictions_-_yk_ndilo_dettah_behchoko_effective_september_9_en.pdf

The CPHO advises against non-essential travel to and from Dettah, N’Dilo and 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 9, 2021 order restricting gatherings.

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.

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

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(link is external).

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(link is external).

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.

Non-essential travel is any travel that is not urgent or emergency in nature that can be postponed without causing difficulties to an individual.  If you require necessities from the grocery store, or have a medical or professional appointment that would be considered essential travel. If you have a business meeting that could be done remotely, or want to have a hang out with a friend or can postpone your trip until after the Public Health Orders have expired than it is considered non-essential travel and the recommendation is to avoid it at this time.  

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