Coronavirus – MERS/SARS
July 30, 2025
Unless stated otherwise, the NWT Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) is using the information regarding case definition, diagnosis, overview of communicable disease and public health measures found in the Alberta Health Services Public Health Disease Management Guidelines.
Note: Any additional information that is NWT specific will be found on this page and supersedes the direction provided in the Alberta Health Services resource. This includes but is not limited to reporting requirements and specified public health measures set out below.
See Alberta Public Health Disease Management Guidelines: Cornonavirus – MERS/SARS.
REPORTING
All HCPs must follow the NWT Public Health Act. Measures for contact tracing and legislative requirements are laid out within the Reportable Disease Control Regulations and reporting timelines are found in the Disease Surveillance Regulations.
Note: the only acceptable methods of reporting to the OCPHO are outlined below. Information provided outside of these methods will not be considered reported unless otherwise stated by a CPHO delegate.
Health Care Professionals
For Part 1 Call immediately and written report within 24 hours
- Confirmed, suspect or probable cases are to be reported to the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) by telephone (867) 920-8646 immediately after diagnosis is made or opinion is formed, AND
- Within 24 hours complete and fax the following to OCPHO at 867-873-0442
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The OCPHO is responsible to report confirmed cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) to PHAC using the Emerging Respiratory Pathogens and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) Case Report Form.
- If there are any updates regarding the case or contacts the appropriate form will need to be resent with the additional information
- Immediately report all outbreaks or suspect outbreaks by telephone (867)-920-8646 to the OCPHO
Laboratories
- Report all positive results to the OCPHO by telephone (867) 920-8646 AND by fax (867) 873-0442 within 24 hours
PUBLIC & HEALTH PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
For more information on Coronavirus: MERS/SARS:
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
- Public Health Agency of Canada: SARS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
- World Health Organization (WHO): Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
- World Health Organization (WHO): Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
EPIDEMIOLOGY
- For information on the epidemiology of Coronavirus – MERS/SARS in the NWT see: Epidemiological Summary of Communicable Diseases HSS Professionals.