The Northwest Territories is SA国际影视传媒渢urning a cornerSA国际影视传媒� on Covid-19 and is on track to lift its public health emergency this spring, according to the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 deputy chief public health officer.

In a press conference on Feb. 9, Dr. Andr茅 Corriveau said the territory is on track to ease restrictions and lift its public health emergency in the coming months.

Several jurisdictions in Canada are already easing restrictions: Officials in both Alberta and Saskatchewan have said they will remove nearly all Covid restrictions, including vaccine passports and mask mandates, in the next few weeks.

However, Corriveau said the territory hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 yet seen the consistent decline in cases necessary to begin easing restrictions. SA国际影视传媒淲e are at least one week away from that steady decline,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He also said there is, as of yet, no timeline for which restrictions will be eased at what time.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are turning the corner country-wide, and we are expecting that we will be following very soon,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He said that SA国际影视传媒渆xisting restrictions will be lifted on a gradual basisSA国际影视传媒� over the coming months, including the resumption of leisure travel in the near future.

Scott Robertson, the director of public health and primary care services for the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, said despite the positive outlook, SA国际影视传媒淲e fully expect to see continued disruptions in the healthcare system for many months to come.SA国际影视传媒�

Despite the positive outlook, challenges still persist: Corriveau confirmed that another NWT resident had died of Covid-19 that same morning. He also said three recent Covid-19 deaths in the territory had been at home, which both he and Robertson took as a sign that residents were not quick enough to seek help when experiencing symptoms.

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to make sure that people are accessing care if they are concerned about their symptoms,SA国际影视传媒� Robertson said.

Outbreaks have also been confirmed in multiple long-term care facility across the territory, including the extended care unit at Stanton Territorial Hospital. Robertson said that although these outbreaks affect a generally vulnerable population, there is also a high rate of vaccination among the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 seniors.

As of 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 9, 18 communities in the NWT (including Yellowknife and its neighbours) also had general Covid advisories in place due to widespread community transmission.

Corriveau also acknowledged the emergence of a variant on the existing Omicron variant, which he described as SA国际影视传媒渁 slightly speedier version of Omicron, with a slightly higher transmission rate.SA国际影视传媒� However, given the lesser severity of disease caused by this variant, Corriveau said its arrival in the territory SA国际影视传媒淸wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛] make a big difference on the trajectory weSA国际影视传媒檙e in.SA国际影视传媒�

Even with the future of Covid looking positive, both Corriveau and Robertson acknowledged a need to review the state the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 health system more generally, which Corriveau said is more SA国际影视传媒渇ragileSA国际影视传媒� than those in other jurisdictions.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are going to be playing catch-up for months if not years to come,SA国际影视传媒� said Robertson.

SA国际影视传媒淚t involves a rethink about where we put our efforts and our resources.SA国际影视传媒�