Hong Kong Tour Group Investigation Resolved

News Type: 
Media Statement

YELLOWKNIFE (APRIL 2, 2020) – NWT Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola issued the following statement on the resolution of the investigation into a group of Hong Kong tourists who visited Yellowknife and later tested positive for COVID-19:

“After an exhaustive investigation, we can confirm the following.

“There were six, rather than seven, tourists who visited as part of a group to Yellowknife.

“These six individuals travelled to Yellowknife from Hong Kong with a stopover in Toronto along the way.

“They stayed in Yellowknife from February 19 -23. They then returned to Toronto and left to tour Bolivia and Peru on February 26. Two additional tourists joined the group in Toronto for this trip and did not travel to Yellowknife, which accounts for the error in the original reporting from Hong Kong cited by Cabin Radio.

“The earliest onset of symptoms of anyone in the group was March 13, 2020. Others developed symptoms days later. This puts two weeks between the group of six’s departure from Yellowknife and the onset of symptoms.

“We have also determined that there are no possible connections between either of the first two confirmed cases and these individuals.

“Given this information, we have determined these tourists did not contract COVID-19 in Hong Kong before coming to Canada, and that there is no risk they brought the virus to Yellowknife.

“It is highly likely that these individuals contracted COVID-19 while transiting through other hotspots of COVID-19 after leaving Yellowknife.

“We appreciate that this was a long, stressful wait for residents who were itching for details.

“However, it was important we had all the information at our disposal, and thoroughly investigated the incident before we reported back to residents.”