PUBLIC UPDATE: APRIL 1, 2020
Today, April 1st, 2020 the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer issued a statement identifying a second confirmed case of COVID-19 in Northwest Territories. This second confirmed case has been identified as an Inuvik resident who returned to Inuvik from British Columbia on March 21st and went into immediate self-isolation as per the order.
The Town of Inuvik understands that residents may be concerned with the recent announcement, but we would like to reiterate that the individual followed all self-isolation protocols. According to the statement the Chief Public Health Officer “the individual is self-isolated in their home in Inuvik along with members of their household. They are doing well with mild symptoms and it is not expected hospitalization will be required."
The release continues on to say, “Our investigation determines the individual traveled to British Columbia. They returned to Inuvik on March 21 and went into immediate self-isolation per the order. They developed symptoms five days after their return and showed no symptoms during their flight back. The entire household has been under mandatory isolation along with them since March 21”
As you may also be aware the Town of Inuvik and the Government of the Northwest Territories began registering passengers at the Inuvik airport on Sunday, March 22 as part of our shared duties as the activated Inuvik Incident Command Centre. Regardless of the presence of the registration process at the airport the order for self-isolation remains the same from the time of issue; for all those returning from outside the Northwest Territories from within the last 14 days were, and are still currently, directed to self-isolate for the required 14-day period.
If returning from outside the Northwest Territories, Inuvik residents are directed to go directly from the airport to their homes and to self-isolate for 14 days. For those travellers coming into Inuvik bound for one of the smaller regional communities, they are required to stay at the designated isolation centre (which is the Mackenzie Hotel). These travellers are now being registered at the airport, provided a shuttle directly to the hotel, and then provided accommodation/meals/laundry/ 24-hour security as well as basic essentials for their 14 days of self-isolation before they are allowed to return to their home community.
Travellers coming off the Dempster Highway are also being registered and their needs coordinated in the same fashion in that those bound for a smaller community outside of Inuvik, and have travelled outside the Northwest Territories in the last 14 days, must stay and self-isolate at the Mackenzie Hotel for 14 days.
We can assure you that all parties involved with this process are taking all recommended safety precautions and are monitoring the situation daily. We maintain ongoing communication with various departments and levels of government to assure coordination and appropriate safety and health protocols.
We urge residents to continue practicing social and physical distancing and to support and maintain the health and safety of your friends, neighbours, and community by following all orders, recommendations, and safety protocols as prescribed by the Chief Public Health Officer of the Northwest Territories.
We, like you are concerned for our families and community. We also believe that the best thing for each of us to do is follow the recommendations put in place and continue to be patient and diligent.
Keep safe. Stay home. Take care of one another.
LINK TO GNWT HEALTH WEBSITE
https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/coronavirus-disease-covid-19
LINK TO GNWT APRIL 1 ANNOUNCEMENT
https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/newsroom/second-confirmed-case-covid-19-northwest-territories
RESOURCES
SELF ISOLATION INFO SHEET
https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/sites/hss/files/resources/self-isolation-information-sheet.pdf
SELF MONITORING INFO SHEET
https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/sites/hss/files/resources/covid-19-self-monitoring-handout.pdf
SOCIAL DISTANCING INFO SHEET
https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/sites/hss/files/resources/social-distancing.pdf
WHERE TO FIND RELIABLE UPDATES
For latest updates, recommendations, orders, & resources from the Town of Inuvik please visit our website at: www.inuvik.ca/COVID-19
For latest updates, recommendations, orders & resources from the Government of the Northwest Territories please visit their website at: https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/coronavirus-disease-covid-19
For latest updates, recommendations, orders, & resources from the Government of Canada please visit their website at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
CONTACT
Town of Inuvik
Grant Hood, Senior Administrative Officer
Phone: 867.777.8608
Cell: 867.678.5397
E-mail: sao@inuvik.ca
