Three temporary public health orders and stronger gathering restrictions will take effect across the North Slave region starting on Saturday, Sept. 25.

Premier Caroline Cochrane, Health Minister Julie Green and Dr. Kami Kandola, chief public health officer held a news conference on Sept. 22 stating that added measures are needed in Yellowknife, Dettah, and Ndilo as well as the T艂谋台ch谦 communities of What矛 and Behchok谦虁 because of the increasing high rate of active cases and continued transmission of the virus.

Cochrane, Green and Kandola all said that the COVID-19 situation in the NWT is the worst it has been since the pandemic began last year.

The territory currently has the highest per capita rate of active COVID-19 infections in Canada with more than 240 active cases. Yellowknife, NSA国际影视传媒檇ilo and Dettah represent the bulk of the active COVID cases with 194.

Cochrane said that even though up to recently the territory had one of the lowest in the country, in recent weeks, public health authorities have not been able to control the continued spread of the virus.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith community transmission, itSA国际影视传媒檚 difficult to determine where the exposure is occurring during the current outbreak situation in Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� Cochrane said, adding that people with positive cases of the virus have been attending businesses and other facilities.

While health authorities have been trying to contact trace and isolate those cases, they havenSA国际影视传媒檛 got it under control.

SA国际影视传媒淭he sheer volume of cases means itSA国际影视传媒檚 difficult to determine the full extent of the situation in Behchoko, Whati, Yellowknife, Dettah and NSA国际影视传媒檇ilo,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Green said the only way to reduce the active cases is to add further restrictions.

SA国际影视传媒淲e realize that public health measures will have negative consequences for residents and businesses, but the priority remains the health and safety of NWT residents,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭his will not change in the middle of our toughest battle to dateSA国际影视传媒�

Kandola said the new restrictions will reduce the active case numbers and ease the stress on the health care system.

SA国际影视传媒淐lose to 60 per cent of active cases are in Yellowknife, NSA国际影视传媒檇ilo and Dettah our health system is stretched and we are seeing severe outcomes,SA国际影视传媒� Kandola said. SA国际影视传媒淭wenty-three NWT residents have been hospitalized, which includes nine ICU admissions, since mid August.SA国际影视传媒�

Additionally, two residents have died in the past month, she said.

She also recommended against non-essential travel in and out of the outbreak communities, working from home if possible and getting vaccinated.

New restrictions

The capital and two Yellowknives Dene communities will see a 10-day extension on COVID-19 gathering order starting on Sept. 24 at 11:59 p.m and through to Oct. 4. It includes a limit of 25 people for outdoor gatherings and a cap of 10 people for all indoor gatherings.

SA国际影视传媒淭his will not apply to essential businesses and facilities, provided they limit the number of in-person staff to those required to carry out operations,SA国际影视传媒� Kandola said.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll previous exemptions for persons, businesses, organizations, restaurants or bars will no longer apply.SA国际影视传媒�

Kandola went on to say that exemptions will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Additionally, household gatherings can only have a maximum of five visitors at a time with a total of 10 people. Schools, colleges and trade schools will remain closed up to the orderSA国际影视传媒檚 expiry date.

Day cares and day homes will remain open due to approved plans submitted to the OCPHO.

Tlicho communities

Behchok谦虁SA国际影视传媒檚 temporary COVID-19 restrictions will be extended to Oct. 7 while What矛SA国际影视传媒檚 restrictions will carry on to Oct. 9.

Kandola said these measures are being taken because there are still residents in both communities who have yet to recover from positive cases and it puts other residents at risk.

SA国际影视传媒淚solation under a temporary COVID-19 restriction order is enforceable by law,SA国际影视传媒� she added. SA国际影视传媒淰isiting any public place could result in an exposure to COVID-19.SA国际影视传媒�

Contacts of COVID cases, provided they have no symptoms, are allowed to leave home isolation to go outdoors alone for fresh air but those people canSA国际影视传媒檛 interact with anyone at at anytime.

People with symptoms who are isolating cannot leave home or place of isolation