Taiga Environmental Laboratory now has authorization from the Chief Public Health Officer to make an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for the Government of the Northwest Territories frontline workers.
The government says the lab has already produced more than 1,700 litres of hand sanitizer.
The spread of the coronavirus pandemic has led to a global shortage of hand sanitizer. Therefore, the government says it’s taking a proactive approach.
“In our response to the COVID-19 crisis, we need to use every source at our disposal to make sure our territory is ready to meet the moment. Our frontline staff can now rest a little easier knowing one of the most essential goods in their workplaces is free from the whims of the global supply chain thanks to Taiga Labs,” said Minister of Health and Social Services Diane Thom in a statement.
According to the GNWT, Taiga Lab is part of the GNWT Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “It is the only full-service environmental analytical laboratory north of 60.”
The lab is capable of producing up to 300 litres of hand sanitizer a day to ensure frontline worker’s needs are met.
“We are all in this together, and we all have a role to play in protecting our families, our elders and our communities,” Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Shane Thompson said.
The new product and lab have also received a site licence and a product licence from Health Canada.
Taiga Lab is the second to start producing hand sanitizer locally.
Yellowknife company 62 Degrees North has been producing hand sanitizer locally since the end of March.
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