GNT: Public Health Advisory – October 13, 2021
Press Release
YELLOWKNIFE October 13, 2021 – The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) is declaring an outbreak at the Inuvik Homeless Shelter. An outbreak is declared when COVID-19 infections are acquired within a facility.
OCPHO is working closely with the shelter management and staff along with the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) and COVID Secretariat to ensure safe isolation space is available for the individuals with confirmed COVID-19 infections. NTHSSA is working closely with the shelters and Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to support testing of shelter staff and users. Public health is actively conducting testing and contact tracing at this time.
Currently there are three confirmed COVID-19 infections in people who were present at the following locations in Inuvik:
- Inuvik Warming Shelter- both Berger St and Distributor St location
- Inuvik Homeless Shelter
Anyone, including all clients and workers, who has been present at any of the shelter locations at any time from October 6 onward should call Inuvik Public Health at 867-777-7246 for isolation advice and to arrange for testing.
An additional outbreak, affecting students in Grade 10 and 11, is being declared at Diamond Jenness Secondary School. Students in the impacted classrooms have been contacted by school administration and provided information on the necessary next steps.
Students in the impacted grades are required to get a test as soon as possible and to follow up with a Day 10 test. The OCPHO recommends that vaccinated students continue with in-person learning while monitoring for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. If any signs or symptoms present, even minor ones, isolate and contact public health to arrange for testing.
Unvaccinated students, in the affected classrooms as well as close contacts from out of classroom activities, are required to switch to on-line learning while monitoring for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. If any signs or symptoms present, even minor ones, isolate and contact public health to arrange for testing.
Follow the advice and recommendations of your health care provider.
The OCPHO is aware of confirmed cases among City Cab drivers and recommends that all cab drivers in Yellowknife arrange for testing either during the walk-in times available daily between 9:00AM and 11:00AM at the testing facility located at 108 Archibald St (across from the Folk on the Rocks parking lot). Another option is to book a test, outside of the walk-in hours, through the online booking system(link is external).
Attribution
All commentary is attributable to Dr. Kami Kandola, Chief Public Health Officer for the Northwest Territories.
Relevant links
- NWT COVID-19 Dashboard(link is external)
- GNWT Daily COVID-19 Symptom Check
- Travel Hotspots
- Delta Variant FAQs
- GNWT COVID-19 website
- Vaccination Bookings(link is external)
Media Contact
Richard Makohoniuk
Manager, COVID Communications
COVID-19 Coordinating Secretariat
Department of Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
richard_makohoniuk@gov.nt.ca(link sends e-mail)
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