*Correction Notice*
March 24, 2020
All residents of Inuvik returning to Inuvik are required to follow the self-isolation procedures as described below however they must do so from their own residence.
The Mackenzie Hotel is only for those individuals bound for another community that do not have a local Inuvik residence.
PUBLIC UPDATE: MARCH 23, 2020
Over the weekend, Town Administration, Staff, & Leadership have been involved in extensive communication and planning with our regional Government of the Northwest Territories personnel and administration. While we are responding to the evolving situation, our main focus has been on our procedure to how Inuvik will receive, monitor, house, & feed those returning to Inuvik from one of the smaller regional communities or those who do not have an adequate space at home to fulfill the requirements for the 14 days of required self-isolation.
As you are now aware, the Chief Health Officer and the Government of the Northwest Territories now requires every person entering the Territory (including residents) to self-isolate for 14 days. Further to this, the GNWT requires those required to self-isolate to do so in one of the larger designated centres: Hay River, Yellowknife, Inuvik or Fort Smith.
CURRENT PROCEDURE FOR THOSE ENTERING INUVIK BY ROAD OR BY AIR
All persons returning to Inuvik from outside the Territory, by road or by air are now being screened at the point of entry.
Whether you enter Inuvik via the Dempster Highway or the Inuvik Airport, you will be screened and directed in the following ways:
1. If you have not already, you are required to complete and submit a self-isolation plan to the GNWT. Link to Self-Isolation Plan Form Here.
2. If you are an Inuvik resident and are able to self-isolate at home, you will be directed to proceed directly to your home and stay there for the 14-day duration following all protocols as required by the Chief Health Officer. Link to Self-Isolation Information Sheet Here.
3. If you are a resident of one of the neighboring or coastal communities returning via Inuvik you are required to remain in Inuvik for the 14-day self-isolation period before travelling to your home community.
4. If you arrive by plane, you will be screened and met at the Inuvik Airport. If you require accommodation support as per above, you will be transported directly from the airport via a special designated shuttle to the Mackenzie Hotel where you will be directed to a designated entrance and will proceed to the 3rd floor where you will be met by a designated On-Site Coordinator.
5. If you arrive by car, you will follow the directions given to you by the designated personnel at the check-point upon your point of entry. If you require accommodation (ie: you are from one of the surrounding or coastal communities or have inadequate self-isolation housing options in Inuvik) you will be directed to the Mackenzie Hotel. If you are in need of accommodation support and have arrived by road please phone the 24-Hour On-Call Number 867.678.5297 prior to accessing the Mackenzie Hotel.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE TEMPORARY SELF-ISOLATION ACCOMMODATION AT THE MACKENZIE HOTEL
1. Absolutely no visitors are allowed
2. The Hotel is to be considered otherwise closed
3. No persons shall enter the hotel unless they have prior permission to do so
4. If you are staying at the hotel or have a friend or family member that is staying at the hotel and would like to drop something off, you must pre-arrange any and all transactions first by phoning the On-Call Number 867.678.5297. Please no such calls are to be made after 11:00 pm.
5. For those that are staying at the hotel for your 14-day self-isolation, you will be provided with a set of instructions, resources, and set of guidelines and protocols for your stay
6. Please note that each person will be provided with 3 meals daily and that their basic necessities will be provided for. Any questions regarding this accommodation can be directed to our On-Call Number at 867.678.5297
7. It is important to note that the individuals that are required to self-isolate are doing as a precautionary measure as per the mandate of the Chief Health Officer. At this time no person using this accommodation is showing symptoms or is believed to have the COVID-19 virus, but rather are being required to self-isolate & self-monitor for a duration of 14-days before returning to their home community where access to health services may be reduced, to limit the possibility of unintentional exposure.
8. To re-iterate, the accommodation at the Mackenzie Hotel is only for those arriving into Inuvik bound for one of the surrounding communities (or for those Inuvik residents that do not have adequate access to accommodation at a local residence). Most Inuvik residents are expected to continue to practice self-distancing at home with their immediate families.
RETURNING TRAVELLERS (RESIDENTS AND VISITORS)
REQUIREMENT TO SELF-ISOLATE
IF YOU ARRIVED INTO THE NWT IN THE LAST 14 DAYS YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SELF-ISLOLATE AND YOU MUST COMPLETE & SUBMIT A SELF-ISOLATION PLAN (VISITORS & RESIDENTS)
REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT A SELF-ISOLATION PLAN
RESIDENTS
• Please continue to practice social distancing. Stay home when possible.
• Follow all recommendations and orders as prescribed by the NWT Chief Health Officer. Resources and links here.
• Monitor yourself for symptoms. Concerns regarding COVID-19 LINK HERE.
• Help monitor our community. Concerns regarding others who may not be practicing the
self-isolating order can be directed to:
ACTIONS CURRENTLY BEING TAKEN BY THE TOWN OF INUVIK
• We've closed our facilities to the public and made changes to our operations. Please visit our website here for important updates & information.
• Our Leadership & Administration are actively engaged in meetings, conference calls, and briefings with our partners and counterparts at the GNWT. We are currently meeting daily with our Senior Management (while following self-distancing protocols)
• We are actively working on response plans and contingency plans for various current and emerging situations affecting our community - more specifically the process for managing incoming persons that may require self-isolating support while needing to remain in Inuvik
• We have appropriate staff, equipment, & resources in place to maintain and provide essential services. Please see our website for any service-related updates at: www.inuvik.ca/COVID-19
• We will provide information and updates on our website and social media here:
RESOURCES
SELF ISOLATION INFO SHEET
SELF MONITORING INFO SHEET
SELF DISTANCING INFO SHEET
UPDATES
For latest updates, recommendations, orders, & resources from the Town of Inuvik please visit our website at: Town of Inuvik COVID-19
For latest updates, recommendations, orders & resources from the Government of the Northwest Territories please visit their website at: Government of the NWT COVID-19
For latest updates, recommendations, orders, & resources from the Government of Canada please visit their website at: Government of Canada COVID-19
Town of Inuvik Contact:
Grant Hood, Senior Administrative Officer
Phone: 867-777-8608
Cell: 867-678-5397
E-mail: sao@inuvik.ca
