Several confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 have been identified in several communities, connected to Treaty 11 events held in Fort Good Hope last week.
There is one confirmed case and five probable cases reported in Fort Good Hope, two confirmed cases reported in Colville Lake, one probable case in Délı̨nę and four probable cases in Yellowknife.
The chief public health officer (CPHO) said in a press release that for the next 10 days, starting Sunday, Colville Lake and Fort Good Hope will be under a containment order.
This means no gatherings are allowed at any time in homes or in public places, with exceptions for homecare and childcare.
No gathering outdoors with anyone you do not live with.
Non-essential businesses and facilities must close, including community centres and schools. While essential businesses and facilities — including grocery stores and gas stations — will have a 10 person indoor limit at one time.
Offices may remain open with a 10 person indoor limit, and physical distancing requirements must be enforced.
Daycares can remain open for the children of essential workers only.
All people must wear masks in any public indoor spaces.
The CPHO says the cases are connected to gatherings that were held in Fort Good Hope for Treaty 11 commemorations from Aug. 5 to 9. There is concern that the infections represent community transmission.
Anyone who attended the events and isn’t fully vaccinated should arrange to be tested by the local health unit and must isolate for 10 days, starting on Sunday. This includes anyone who has returned to another community.
People who were fully vaccinated that were in attendance are asked to monitor their symptoms for 10 days starting Sunday and to arrange to be tested if they have symptoms.
The CPHO is advising no non-essential travel between Fort Good Hope, Colville Lake and all other NWT communities.
The Sahtú has one of the lowest rates in the NWT with only 71 per cent partially vaccinated and 62 per cent fully vaccinated.
A rapid response team is in Fort Good Hope to help with testing and the investigation.
Two additional COVID-19 cases not connected to the cluster in Fort Good Hope have been reported. One is in an out of territory worker in Norman Wells and another in an out of territory worker in Hay River.
