Yellowknife COVID-19 count continues to grow, Behchokǫ̀ count on the decline
Yellowknife cases are in workplaces, day homes, retail stores and 'all demographics'
On Friday evening N.W.T. health officials announced 45 new cases of COVID-19 in the territory, with the active case count now standing at 456.
There are now 281 active cases in the Yellowknife, Dettah and Ndilǫ region (up from 272 cases Thursday), and 152 in Behchokǫ̀ (down from 163 cases Thursday).
"In Yellowknife, COVID-19 infections are occurring in a variety of workplaces, in day homes and in retail stores," states Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola in a press release. Kandola added that most cases of COVID-19 are no longer linked to "the outbreak in the underhoused population in Yellowknife."
"This is community transmission and the impacts are being felt in all demographics within Yellowknife," she stated.
Health officials discourage any travel between Yellowknife and other communities, except for essential reasons, and remind people to obey public health orders already in place. This is to prevent the territory's health care system from being overwhelmed, and to protect others.
Public health orders limiting gatherings remain in effect in Yellowknife, Dettah and Ndilǫ until Oct. 17, and in Behchokǫ until Oct. 18.
Active cases by community or location:
- Inuvik — 1
- Łutsel Kʼe — 1
- Dettah, Ndilǫ and Yellowknife — 281
- Fort Good Hope — 1
- Norman Wells — 1
- Fort Smith — 8
- Hay River and K'atl'odeeche First Nation — 7
- Behchokǫ̀ — 152
- Wekweètì —2
- Whatì — 1
- Tłı̨chǫ highway — 1
Children and COVID-19
There are 69 children under the age of 12 in the N.W.T. with COVID-19, or 15 per cent of active cases.
National data shows that children are at low risk of severe symptoms from COVID-19.
Canadian North flight exposure notice
Another flight was added to the N.W.T. exposure list. Anyone on Canadian North flight 244 from Edmonton to Yellowknife on Oct. 5, and who was sitting in rows 13 through 19, could have been exposed to COVID-19.
Anyone in those rows who is unvaccinated or partially vaccinated must isolate for 10 days and arrange for testing. Anyone fully vaccinated should self-monitor, and self-isolate and arrange for testing if symptoms develop.
The full list of public exposure notices can be found here.