Public Service Announcement – January 7, 2022

News Type: 
Past COVID-19 Advisories

YELLOWKNIFE January 7, 2022 – The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer with support from the COVID Secretariat is pleased to announce an expansion of the distribution of rapid antigen testing kits at Northwest Territories (NWT) entry points. Testing kits will be distributed at land border points of entry to travellers entering the NWT beginning over the weekend and early next week.

Testing kits include five (5) individual tests and COVID Secretariat Border Officers will be distributing them at highway points of entry with the aim to deliver two tests per vehicle occupant with a minimum of one (1) box distributed per vehicle. 

The land border crossings, and expected start times for distribution are as follows:

  • Highway 1 at the Alberta 60th parallel check point will begin distributing tests on the morning of Saturday, January 8, 2022.
  • Highway 8 at the Yukon/NWT check point will begin distributing tests on Sunday, January 9, 2022 or as soon as weather and logistics allow.
  • Highway 7 at the British Columbia/NWT check point will begin distributing tests at the next scheduled opening on Tuesday, January 11, 2022.

ProtectNWT Update

There is a significant increase in call volume, from an average of 285 daily calls to 450 – 500, to ProtectNWT at the same time staff have been impacted by COVID-19. Earlier this week average call wait times increased to 12 minutes. Callers are asked to please be patient when calling 8-1-1. ProtectNWT is working to provide alternative arrangement for staff so they can safely and quickly continue to provide required services. .

ProtectNWT can also be reached by email at ProtectNWT@gov.nt.ca for assistance.

Attribution

All commentary is attributable to Dr. Kami Kandola, Chief Public Health Officer for the Northwest Territories.

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