The NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Compliance and Enforcement Taskforce on Saturday set up a check stop staffed by police and public health officers to offer Covid-related information to drivers.
Located at the corner of Highway 4 and Niven Gate, the entrance to the Niven Lake area, about 10 officers, including four public health officers stopped motorists and offered them information about the coronavirus and the social distancing orders in effect in the territory.
Education primary aim
For a few hours during the afternoon, officers waved down drivers heading north and south along the highway and asked if they were familiar with the health orders and if they had any questions. Information sheets were also given out.
It was the first time the taskforce has set up this type of checkstop in the NWT, as Conrad Baetz, deputy chief public health officer said Saturday.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e spreading the word about the public health orders to make sure people understand what they are and understand what they need to comply with,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
The formation of the taskforce, which is staffed by about 30 people was announced on April 8.
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SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to get information out to the public and through a different vehicle, so to speak.SA国际影视传媒�
Chief public health officer Kami Kandola urged on March 22 that social gatherings be cancelled, a day after the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 first confirmed case of Covid-19 was reported.
More than two weeks later Kandola ordered that all indoor gatherings be banned including funerals, parties and weddings. An accompanying order applied stricter regulations to workers heading to mining and oil and gas sites. Unlike her recommendation on March 22, the ban on April 10 was a legally enforceable order.
Enforcement a possibility
Baetz said the point of the check stops wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 necessarily to enforce the health orders though he said the officers are empowered to do so.
If a violation of an order was discovered, for example if a driver admitted they had travelled straight from Alberta and werenSA国际影视传媒檛 self-isolating then the health officers would investigate and ensure the driver understands the need for self-isolation.
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Positive reception from public
In general, Baetz said drivers have responded favourably to the checkstop measure and were interested in knowing the facts about coronavirus and the orders issued by Kandola.
There were no reports of disruptive or uncooperative drivers, he said.
A decision about continuing with the check stop on Sunday or next week hadnSA国际影视传媒檛 been made yet. Further information campaigns would be carried out across in the territory but Baetz couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 say it there would be more check stops.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 an evolving thing. We need to be flexible about how weSA国际影视传媒檙e delivering our education systems.SA国际影视传媒�
