The Northwest Territories government is taking greater precautions by having some of the personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies be made within the territory. Lisa Giovannetti, communications officer at NTHSSA (Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority) stressing the importance of quality assurance, she said, “all vendors that we purchase…
Premier Caroline Cochrane says it would be a “sin” for governments to take back social programs that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The premier went so far as to say, “I am all about universal childcare and guaranteed living wage. I think it is part of the answer. I do…
Even COVID-19 can’t stop patio season. As a way to combat virus transmission, the City of Yellowknife is encouraging restaurants to open outdoor spaces to meet physical distancing rules. The city said in a press release, restaurant owners in designated areas downtown can receive up $10,000 for the installation of…
Friendship centres and other Indigenous organizations in the NWT are eligible for additional funding announced by the federal government last week. On May 21, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said an additional $75 million will go to address the needs of Indigenous people living off-reserve and in urban centres during the…
Over the May long weekend, health officials started using rapid-result COVID-19 test kits called GeneXpert Express. The units deliver test results in less than an hour. However, Dr. Sarah Cook, the territorial medical director, says the vast majority of tests will still be going to Alberta — with a four-day…
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the territorial housing corporation left the Yellowknife Women’s Society (YWS) in limbo as to whether it would support ongoing plans to turn the Arnica Inn into transitional housing. Earlier this month, the YWS began operating the former inn as an isolation space for people at…
RCMP seized alcohol from two vehicles attempting to enter Behchoko last week. Behchoko implemented a temporary alcohol prohibition after an order was signed by community leaders, a news release said. The first seizure took place on May 12, when RCMP intercepted a vehicle entering the community with a total of…
Defective KN95 masks are being recovered by the Government of the Northwest Territories after Health Canada issued a recall. The recall was first issued on May 11, after the territory had already ordered and even received some shipments of the product. A news release said the masks do not meet…
MLAs will return to the Legislative Assembly on May 26 with several measures in place to protect themselves from COVID-19. Those measures include daily temperature checks and a new seating arrangement among others. Members will also receive gloves and masks to be used in case they can’t keep two metres…
Well it’s official. There have been no COVID-19 cases in the Northwest Territories for 28 days, meaning the first phase of the territorial government’s plan to relax the public health orders can begin immediately. Under the first phase of the Emerging Wisely plan, residents can now have up to five…