The Northwest Territories chief public health officer (CPHO) says recently-approved rapid testing equipment may shorten the territory’s self-isolation period. This was announced in a press conference on Wednesday, hours after Health Canada approved the Abbott Diagnostics ID Now. “This is good news, not just for the Northwest Territories but all…
The territorial government has extended the public health emergency until Oct. 10. There have been no cases of COVID-19 in the NWT since April 5, but a press release says, with record levels of COVID-19 transmission reported in neighbouring areas, the risk to the Northwest Territories is increased. “As the…
The Nunavut department of health is sending a rapid response team to a mine after reporting seven presumptive COVID-19 cases on Monday. The cases are all at TMAC Resources’ Hope Bay Mine, approximately 125 kilometres southwest of Cambridge Bay. The tests are being sent to a southern lab, and if…
The territorial government acknowledges it needs to improve its communications around COVID-19, especially regarding its proposed secretariat. Speaking with reporters Thursday morning, Russell Neudorf, the man in charge of the project, said all these questions are partly the government’s fault. “I believe this is in part because we may not…
The Government of the Northwest Territories is holding a survey to determine new regulations around vaping products. The survey is being done in an effort to reduce the number of youth whose health has been affected by vaping or smoking, a press release says. The survey is being run by…
Customers and staff will soon be required to wear a face covering while inside all Independent grocery stores in Yellowknife. Loblaw Public Relations says the decision was made as guidelines from public health determine wearing a mask is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially…
The office of the chief public health officer (OCPHO) says the investigation into a case of COVID-19 at Diavik Diamond Mine is over. The case was confirmed positive on Sept. 10. Dr. Kami Kandola’s office sent a public health advisory saying the mine’s medical team tested the person’s contacts and…
The government is launching a wastewater testing program to potentially detect the presence of COVID-19 in the territories. The program will collect sewage samples from Hay River, Yellowknife, Inuvik, Fort Smith and Fort Simpson. The government says they suspect this program to cover half the population’s and 100 per cent of all…
A presumptive COVID-19 case at the Diavik Diamond Mine was confirmed as positive Thursday afternoon. Twenty-one workers are in isolation as a result of the positive test, says a news release issued by the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO). The individual who tested positive is a worker…
The territorial government says there is a presumptive case of COVID-19 at Diavik Mine. The unnamed individual arrived at the Northwest Territories in a chartered flight from Ontario, as stated in a press release. Upon entry, the worker was deemed “presumptive positive” and still needs to be confirmed by a…