A concerned Tuktoyaktuk resident, who asked to be anonymous, is angry after reading social media posts warning that groups of tourists are still visiting the Beaufort Delta.

The resident has two elderly parents in Aklavik. Their age SA国际影视传媒� coupled with the vulnerability of living in a small community with limited health resources SA国际影视传媒� made the risk of continued tours SA国际影视传媒渦nacceptable,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She raised concerns over two reported Beaufort Delta groups, one reported visiting Tuktoyaktuk, and another visiting Aklavik.

SheSA国际影视传媒檚 not the only one SA国际影视传媒�  former longtime Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen shared her concerns.

SA国际影视传媒淏igger things have overtaken the agenda here, folks. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e sorry if you came all this way, or weSA国际影视传媒檙e sorry if you were planning to come all this way and now it needs be postponed,SA国际影视传媒� Groenewegen said.

She said it was time to SA国际影视传媒渉unker downSA国际影视传媒� and halt group tours in the NWT during the public health emergency. She also wants more active messaging from the territorial government, arguing operators have been left to self-regulate amid the crisis.

Groenewegen, who runs Greenway Accommodations out of Hay River, said her hotel is empty, SA国际影视传媒渂ut thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the way it is. WeSA国际影视传媒檒l try to survive.SA国际影视传媒�

Cathie Bolstad, CEO of NWT Tourism, said in a statement March 19 that it was time to get guests home, adding SA国际影视传媒渢here is a time for tours and this is not the time.SA国际影视传媒�

Kami Kandola, NWT's chief public health officer, advised all international tourists as of March 15 to self-isolate for two weeks upon arrival or depart. Domestic tourists have been asked to self-monitor.

Communities limited on travel restrictions

Lesa Semmler, MLA of Inuvik Twin Lakes, wrote in a social media post March 19 that the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment was speaking to the travel groups.

The group that traveled to SA国际影视传媒淭uktoyaktuk was unaware of the community ban and has no further tours schedule,SA国际影视传媒� she wrote, adding the Aklavik group was from Yukon and the territorial government was attempting to contact it.

Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson wrote that Tuktoyaktuk doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have the authority to keep tourists out. The hamlet has requested an amendment to the relevant laws, but was waiting for Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Paulie Chinna to respond, he wrote.

SA国际影视传媒淚 am hoping we are able to get the tourist situation under control as soon as possible for our region,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Tuktoyaktuk Mayor Erwin Elias wrote in a social media statement that neither the hamlet nor the could stop the tourists. He said it was attempting SA国际影视传媒渢o try resolve this very serious concernSA国际影视传媒� with the territorial government.

Aklavik senior administrative officer Fred Behrens also said there were limits to restricting visits to a community, SA国际影视传媒渆specially if they're Canadians, and it seems like most of them have been.SA国际影视传媒�

With closed borders, itSA国际影视传媒檚 little else but Canadians, he said, and few of them have even arrived.

The chief public health officer will ultimately have to decide on movement, according to infrastructure minister Katrina Nokleby.

SA国际影视传媒淭he only person who can restrict traffic within the territory is the public health officer,SA国际影视传媒� Nokleby told reporters Friday.

Tourism operators were largely adhering to special measures, she said, calm and caution without rushing to assumptions.

The hamlet has shut down its buildings, and Inuvialuit Development Corporation has also shut its office down to all public and non-essential residents, said Behrens. There have also been no visitors to his office, he said.

Behrens advised residents to follow the health departmentSA国际影视传媒檚 guidelines.

SA国际影视传媒淚f the virus does get into a small community, we definitely could have some challenges,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that the health department has done a SA国际影视传媒渂ang-up job.SA国际影视传媒�

Ulukhaktok Mayor Laverna Klengenberg also told SA国际影视传媒 last week she was pleased with the support from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Groenewegen, meanwhile, said this is no to time SA国际影视传媒渂ury our heads in the sand.SA国际影视传媒� Tourism operators like herself shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 hope the virus will go away, or that it wonSA国际影视传媒檛 affect their businesses, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are going to have to face it and deal with it and we need somebody to take the charge. And that should be the government of the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� Groenewegen said.