Dr. Kami Kandola, the chief public health officer, has announced that as of 5 p.m. Monday, NWT residents, non-essential workers and other exempted, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to self-isolate upon entry into the territory.
Kandola also removed her long-standing recommendation of only travelling when necessary. These changes are according to the Emerging Wisley 2021:Step by Step Together plan.
Everyone is still, however, required to submit a self-isolation plan for contact tracing purposes.
NWT residents will not be required to show proof of vaccination upon re-entry, according to the health advisory. The only requirements they need to meet are all federal.
Anyone who is partially vaccinated and wanting to enter the territory is still required to isolate for a minimum of eight days and those unvaccinated will have to isolate for a minimum of 10 days – that also includes children under 12.
Partially vaccinated individuals will be allowed to leave isolation if they get a negative on the eighth day of their self-isolation; it’s the same for unvaccinated individuals, except the test must be on the tenth day.
People travelling into small communities from outside the NWT are required to undergo a test on the first and 14th day of being in the territory.
Non-residents must still be given an exemption from the office of the chief public health officer, which includes reasons such as those granted access into the territory because of work, school, family or compassionate reasons.
Household members must follow the same self-isolation regulation as the travellers regardless of vaccination status.
“No testing is required for household members unless symptomatic,” reads the advisory.
“As vaccination rates rise in the NWT and across Canada, we’ll continue to see case counts drop and restrictions eased. Residents and communities must now take personal responsibility to evaluate their own risk and make informed decisions,” she says.
Travellers from outside the NWT must show proof of vaccination and submit a self-isolation plan.
