COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities in every NWT region

The Jimmy Erasmus Long-Term Care facility in Behchokǫ̀. (Photo by Colinda Blondin/retrieved on Google Maps)

Public health recently declared outbreaks in several long-term care facilities across the NWT.

  • Hay River: Woodland Long Term Care (Jan. 28)
  • Inuvik hospital Long Term Care Unit (Jan. 29)
  • Inuvik Charlotte Vehus Home (Jan. 31)
  • Norman Wells: Sahtú Dene Nechá Kǫ́ Long Term Care Facility (Jan. 31)
  • Behchokò: Jimmy Erasmus Seniors’ Home (Jan. 31)
  • Fort Simpson: Elder Care Home (Jan. 31)
  • Fort Smith: Northern Lights Special Care Home (Jan. 31)
  • Yellowknife: Aven Manor (Jan. 31)

Public health is advising anyone that has been at these locations since the dates listed above should self-monitor for symptoms, isolate if they develop and get tested.

Those without two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine should be tested on the fourth day after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms.

The long-term care facilities have been closed to the public and will stay that way until the outbreaks are over.

However, public health says palliative and essential visits will continue.

Any visitors and staff will be tested daily.

Public health has also updated the exposure locations to include the Inuvik Warming Centre. The exposure happened on Feb. 1 and is ongoing.

People should monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested if they develop.

About the Author

Francis Tessier-Burns
Francis was a reporter with CKLB from January 2019 to March 2023. In his time with CKLB, he had the immense pleasure and honour of learning about northern Indigenous cultures.