The NWT has officially moved into the first phase of relaxing some Covid-19 restrictions.

On Friday, the territory implemented an order to ease weeks-old restrictions put in place in the fight against the novel coronavirus. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 part of its three pronged SA国际影视传媒淓mergency WiselySA国际影视传媒� plan unveiled last week.

So what does that mean for Yellowknife residents and business owners impacted by strict health safety precautions introduced during the global pandemic?

Social gatherings

For residents, it means more personal facetime with friends and visitors previously barred from entering homes.

Now, NWT residents can have up to five people they donSA国际影视传媒檛 live with inside their residence.. A maximum of 10 people in total are allowed inside a home at any given time.

Physical distancingSA国际影视传媒� staying two metres apart SA国际影视传媒� is still strongly recommended. The government is urging Northerners to keep the social circle small: officials suggest selecting a SA国际影视传媒淔ave Five,SA国际影视传媒� a handful of close friends to invite over.

SA国际影视传媒淚f youSA国际影视传媒檙e having someone over whoSA国际影视传媒檚 older, has a weaker immune system, or has an illness already, we strongly recommend your house doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have anyone else over while they are. Our message to NWT residents: use your common sense to protect each other while we all get some relief from being cooped up,SA国际影视传媒� stated the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 news release.

The new rules also have implications for outdoor activities.

Outdoor activities

Up to 25 people can now gather outside, but physical distancing measures are still in place and must be adhered to. That means sports clubs and outdoor organized sports events, with the exception of rugby, can get up and running again.

Day-use areas at parks and outdoor kitchen shelters have also received the greenlight to reopen, but overnight camping is still prohibited at private and publicly-owned campgrounds until phase two of the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 plan is implemented.

Certain types of mass outdoor gatherings, including farmerSA国际影视传媒檚 markets, are now allowed with limited capacites and health safety measures in place.

Businesses

Some business establishments are permitted to open their doors under new rules.
Museums, art galleries,personal service establishments, massage therapy clinics and chiropractors are among those organizations. But they can only reopen if theySA国际影视传媒檝e introduced the required public health safety measures.

As for the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 longstanding travel and physical distancing restrictions, they arenSA国际影视传媒檛 going anywhere yet.

Those orders, along with rules for essential workers and remote camp-workers, remain in place for the SA国际影视传媒渇oreseeable future.SA国际影视传媒�

So does the order requiring residents to refrain from activities if theySA国际影视传媒檙e sick.

SA国际影视传媒淲e arenSA国际影视传媒檛 out of the woods yet,SA国际影视传媒� wrote Premier Caroline Cochrane in last weekSA国际影视传媒檚 news release.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need to work together to keep COVID-19 out of the NWT,SA国际影视传媒� continued Cochrane.
Health minister Diane Thom called the relaxation of restrictions SA国际影视传媒渆xcitingSA国际影视传媒� but reminded residents that the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 Compliance and Enforcement Task force will still be responding to reports of breaches of compliance of the new orders.

Here's a look at Phase One of the 'Emerging Wisely Plan:' 

This is what all three stage of the plan look like:

Source: Northwest Territories Health Department