As some jurisdictions in Canada release daunting projections for the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths forecasted for the months ahead, Premier Caroline Cochrane says there is currently not enough data in the NWT to paint a picture of just how badly the territory could be hit by the virus.
Without evidence of community spread SA国际影视传媒� all five COVID-19 cases confirmed in the territory have been linked to travel SA国际影视传媒� Cochrane said itSA国际影视传媒檚 difficult to model scenarios projecting the number of potential infections and deaths in the NWT.
SA国际影视传媒淩ight now (provinces) are modeling it across the country because theySA国际影视传媒檙e swamped by COVID-19 SA国际影视传媒� thereSA国际影视传媒檚 over 11,000 cases across the country; it's a community spread now (outside of the NWT); no longer just international travel,SA国际影视传媒� Cochrane told SA国际影视传媒 in an interview Friday.
SA国际影视传媒淲e could make a projection based on population figures; doing a statistical analysis of whatSA国际影视传媒檚 happening in the south. But there are precipitating factors that we have to take into consideration, like our border crossing,SA国际影视传媒� said Cochrane.
Alberta and Quebec are expected to release models this week, while Ontario, citing transparency, released stark projections for COVID-19SA国际影视传媒檚 impact on April 3.
With the current health measures and restrictions in place, Ontario projects between 3,000 and 15,000 COVID-19-related deaths over the course of the pandemic.
Cochrane said there are a lot of factors that go into modeling, including where cases in the NWT are popping up.
SA国际影视传媒淚f there's a case found in Yellowknife and itSA国际影视传媒檚 community spread, our risk of infection, our projection would be much higher than if itSA国际影视传媒檚 a case found in a small community,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not going to project that 2,000 are going to get it in the NWT if itSA国际影视传媒檚 only in one small community."
If community spread is confirmed in the territory, Cochrane said further analysis will SA国际影视传媒渁bsolutelySA国际影视传媒� be done.
Stanton Territorial Hospital well equipped, says premier
Asked about preparations at Stanton Territorial Hospital, the territory's largest hospital, Cochrane said the brand new SA国际影视传媒渟tate-of-the-artSA国际影视传媒� facility is well equipped and well stocked with personal protective equipment. Of the five confirmed COVID-19 cases, one patient from Fort Resolution has been hospitalized in Yellowknife.
Personal protective equipment was one of the many topics discussed during CochraneSA国际影视传媒檚 two-hour long teleconference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and territorial premiers on Thursday.
SA国际影视传媒 has requested updated figures of the number of face masks, gowns, protective glasses and ventilators at Stanton Territorial Hospital, and is still awaiting a response from the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 press secretary.
Cochrane said the federal government, along with the provinces and territories, are taking on a SA国际影视传媒渦nitedSA国际影视传媒� approach by agreeing to share crucial equipment where itSA国际影视传媒檚 needed most.
SA国际影视传媒淲e agreed to work together SA国际影视传媒� all provinces and jurisdictions, regardless of political parties, have decided that this is so serious that weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to work united to address this," said Cochrane.
"So instead of competing for supplies individually, we are now working as one now,SA国际影视传媒� she added, noting Ontario and Quebec, two provinces reeling from a sharp spike in community cases and hospitalizations, are in more dire need of supplies.
Pushing PM for relief tailored to the North
Raising concerns about COVID-19SA国际影视传媒檚 economic impact on NWT businesses, Cochrane said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 asked Trudeau for relief for small regional airlines SA国际影视传媒� an integral supply chain to the communities.
SA国际影视传媒淭he airlines are struggling,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding territorial premiers emphasized the same point with the prime minister.
Trudeau, still in the SA国际影视传媒渓isteningSA国际影视传媒� phase,SA国际影视传媒� didnSA国际影视传媒檛 commit to an airline bailout, and no figures were put on the table, said the premier.
COVID-19SA国际影视传媒檚 impact on NWT mines, along with tourism and the business sector as a whole, were other SA国际影视传媒渕ajorSA国际影视传媒� issues raised with Trudeau last week, said Cochrane. The federal government is asking each province and territory to submit a list of their projected needs in the wake of COVID-19 and follow-up letters will be sent to Trudeau, she added.
To name or not to name a community?
After confirming two new cases Thursday, health officials revealed that one of the individuals, who entered the NWT on March 22 after travelling elsewhere in the country, submitted a mandatory self-isolation plan but returned home to a small community SA国际影视传媒� breaching an order to self-isolate in one of the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 four SA国际影视传媒渄esignated self-isolationSA国际影视传媒� sites:Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River and Fort Smith.
The person developed symptoms March 26 and was later hospitalized in Yellowknife. As per territory protocol, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer did not release the name of the small community the person had travelled back to SA国际影视传媒� a policy that has prompted concerns from some residents who want to know if their community was impacted.
The community -- Fort Resolution -- was identified by the chief, Louis Balsillie and several other people on social media less than 12 hours later, although the health department has not confirmed the reports.
Cochrane says, for now, the territory will continue its policy of not naming small communities when new COVID-19 cases are announced but that could change if an outbreak occurs.
SA国际影视传媒淭here is a fine balance between privacy protection laws and the safety of communities,SA国际影视传媒� said Cochrane, explaining the reasoning behind the controversial protocol.
SA国际影视传媒淪o at all times we try to protect the privacy of any individual, and then if there was a vast outbreak in a community, the personal safety of a person would come second and the community would first,SA国际影视传媒� said Cochrane.
SA国际影视传媒淪o thereSA国际影视传媒檚 always an assessment made,SA国际影视传媒� added the premier.
Asked whether the hospitalized person would face penalties for breaching the order SA国际影视传媒� a $10,000 fine or up to six months in jail could come with violations SA国际影视传媒� Cochrane said she canSA国际影视传媒檛 speak to specific cases, but said the circumstances of the individualSA国际影视传媒檚 travel are being investigated by public health officials. The investigation was confirmed NWT Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Dr. Kami Kandola during a press conference Saturday. She said at this time, the patientSA国际影视传媒檚 health is the top priority.
Kandola, stressing the importance of maintaining patients' privacy in certain cirucmstances as a human rights issue, noted backlash COVID-19 positive people have faced in recent weeks.
Cochrane, addressing the media alongside Kandola on Saturday, said enforcement was something her government always knew would be necessary.
SA国际影视传媒淐OVID-19 is not something that will be here today and gone tomorrow. Our fear is that people will desensitize. People will forget we've locked down our borders. Some people think theySA国际影视传媒檙e safe, theySA国际影视传媒檙e not safe,SA国际影视传媒� said Cochrane.
SA国际影视传媒淚f we need to SA国际影视传媒� if people are blatantly disregarding the order, we are ready to step up and we made a commitment to our residents that we would be aggressive to protect them and we will stand by that commitment,SA国际影视传媒� said Cochrane.
SA国际影视传媒淚f that takes stronger enforcement then we will do that. We will do whatever we can in our power to keep the residents of the NWT safe,SA国际影视传媒� she continued.
'If we don't have people engaged and working with us, weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to loseSA国际影视传媒�
Cochrane told SA国际影视传媒 Friday her biggest concern is protecting residents in smaller communities. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why it is so important to heed the advice SA国际影视传媒� and orders SA国际影视传媒� of Kandola.
SA国际影视传媒淲e need the people to listen, to abide by the order. Wash your hands, two metres away, no large gatherings. If we don't have people engaged and working with us, weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to lose.SA国际影视传媒�
