COVID-19 pandemic in the Northwest Territories

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COVID-19 pandemic in the Northwest Territories
an electronic sign that says "Border Check Stop" on a gravel road.
Border Checkpoint on the Dempster Highway
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationNorthwest Territories, Canada
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index caseYellowknife
Arrival dateMarch 21, 2020
(1 year, 5 months, 1 week and 4 days)
DateAugust 24, 2021
Confirmed cases357
Active cases225
Recovered132
Deaths
1
Government website
NWT Government

The COVID-19 pandemic in the Northwest Territories is part of an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of July 5, 2021, there have been 128 confirmed cases in the Canadian territory of the Northwest Territories with 28 cases recovered. 11,789 tests have been conducted, with 11,758 negative results.[1]

On March 21, 2020, the Northwest Territories reported its first case of COVID-19; the individual had travelled to British Columbia and Alberta before returning home to Yellowknife.[2]

Timeline[]

2020[]

The Northwest Territories declared a state of emergency on March 18.[3][4] On March 21, the territory reported its first case of COVID-19; the individual had travelled to British Columbia and Alberta before returning home to Yellowknife.[5]

By May 8, the Northwest Territories has banned all non-resident travellers into the Northwest Territories.[6] All residents travelling into the Northwest Territories are required to self-isolate in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, or Fort Smith for at least 14 days.[7]

On October 20, one resident from Inuvik was tested positive.[8] The next day, two residents in Yellowknife were tested positive for the virus. The total confirmed cases in the territory raised to eight.[9]

On October 24, it was reported that a Yellowknife resident working at the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine tested positive for COVID-19.[10] The total confirmed cases in the territory raised to nine.[11]

The first vaccine, of Moderna type, was administered in Yellowknife on December 31, 2020.[12]

2021[]

Beginning on May 4, 2021, Northwest Territories expanded its vaccine eligibility to 12 years and up.[13]

On June 9, 2021, the government announced reopening depending on vaccination rates with restrictions removed in the fall.[14][15] Mask requirements were lifted on June 28, 2021 for multiple cities. [16]

Chief Justice Louise Charbonneau said the judiciary could considered dismissing some charges due to 66 cases in a "massive" backlog of jury trials.[17]

A major outbreak occurred in mid to late August in the Sahtu Region after a hand games tournament in Fort Good Hope in early August. Canadian Red Cross and the Canadian Rangers were sent to help these communities.[18] The territory had its first COVID-19 fatality from this outbreak.[19]

References[]

  1. ^ "Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)". hss.gov.nt.ca. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  2. ^ "First case of COVID-19 reported in Northwest Territories". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 21, 2020. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  3. ^ Williams, Ollie (March 18, 2020). "NWT declares public health emergency over coronavirus". Cabin Radio. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  4. ^ "Information on JK-12 Schools". ece.gov.nt. Education, Culture and Employment - Government of Northwest Territories. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  5. ^ "First case of COVID-19 reported in Northwest Territories". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 21, 2020.
  6. ^ "Travel + Moving Around". Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "Travellers arriving in the NWT". Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Inuvik resident confirmed positive for COVID-19". CBC News. October 20, 2020.
  9. ^ "Presumptive positive case of COVID-19 at N.W.T. mine was false alarm, officials say". CBC News. October 21, 2020.
  10. ^ "Positive COVID-19 test confirmed in worker at N.W.T. mine, three more workers awaiting tests". CBC News. October 24, 2020.
  11. ^ "Live Tracking of COVID-19 in the NWT". Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "N.W.T. starts administering COVID-19 vaccines". CBC News. December 31, 2020.
  13. ^ "'Making history': 1st N.W.T. teen gets COVID-19 vaccine". CBC News. May 6, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  14. ^ "Northwest Territories launches reopening plan based on vaccination rates, COVID cases". Kamloops This Week. June 9, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  15. ^ CBC News (June 9, 2021). "N.W.T. reopening begins today, all restrictions could be lifted by late fall". CBC. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  16. ^ "Mask mandate in Yellowknife, Ndilo, Dettah and Behchokǫ̀ set to lift Monday". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 24, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  17. ^ "Huge backlog of jury trials in N.W.T. due to COVID-19". CBC News. June 18, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  18. ^ "Canadian Rangers and Canadian Red Cross to help N.W.T. amid surge of COVID-19 cases". CBC News. August 21, 2021.
  19. ^ Desmarais, Anna (August 25, 2021). "'I didn't want him to go yet': N.W.T. family mourns patriarch, territory's 1st death from COVID-19". CBC News.

External links[]


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