Congratulations Norman Wells !
After nearly a month of restrictions the community has made it through the outbreak by working together to support those persons that were stricken by COVID-19 , those persons who had to Isolate as a precaution to prevent community spread and those who chose to stay home to help prevent community spread. Well Done !
Thank You to the Town of Norman Wells Emergency Management Team, Volunteers, Businesses and Residents that came forward to manage this crisis. Thank You to Front Line Workers, Nurses, Doctors, Health Staff and Rapid Response Teams for working long hours under extreme conditions to care for patients, test residents and give medical direction to everyone impacted by the outbreak.
The Public Health Order – Containment for Norman Wells issued on August 25,2021 by the Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) expires September 14, 2021 at 11:59 pm. While the order will no longer be in effect it is still important to remember that keeping our community safe takes teamwork. Residents are reminded that the following precautions apply.
Mandatory Mask use – Indoor Public Places:
• Effective 08:00 am August 26,2021 the CPHO issued a Public Health Order mandating wearing of Masks in all indoor public places across the NWT . This order remains in effect for the entire NWT.
Physical Distance:
• Keeping a safe physical distance of 2m ( 6 feet) is still a best practice to prevent spread of COVID – 19, this practice is recommended.
Handwashing:
• Handwashing throughout the day helps to limit spread of COVD-19, this practice is recommended.
Gatherings:
• While gatherings are once again allowed it is wise to keep your bubble small.
Symptoms:
• Anyone that experiences symptoms of COVID-9 should isolate immediately and call the Health Center for Medical Direction and Testing.COVID-19 symptoms include:• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, new or worsening cough, generally feeling unwell, abdominal pain, chills, muscle aches, fatigue or weakness, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, headache, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, loss of sense of smell/taste, skin changes or rashes, loss of appetite, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Travel
• Travel restrictions have not been put in place by a Public Health Order however the CPHO recommends that travel to Yellowknife and surrounding communities and to communities that are under a containment order should be reduced to “ Essential” Travel only. Travel for Medical or Dental appointments are essential. Recreational travel is not recommended at this time.
Self- isolation upon return from Travel:
Vaccinated Residents:
NWT residents who have travelled to other parts of Canada and are fully vaccinated no longer need to self-isolate upon return to the NWT.
• Resident travellers are still required to submit a Self-Isolation Plan (SIP) so that the OCPHO is aware of your vaccination status and travel details for contact tracing purposes if necessary.
• No self-isolation is required for household members of the returning traveller regardless of the household members’ vaccination status.
• All NWT residents who no longer need to self-isolate must self-monitor but can do so in their own communities unless specified by the CPHO.
• Symptoms checks are still required.
Additional Testing Requirements:
Fully vaccinated individuals travelling into small NWT communities will require a day 1 entry test and a day 8 exit test. Entry test refers to a screening test done upon entry into the NWT and early in the incubation period (day 1) for COVID-19. Exit test refers to the last test required from the order for the purposes of screening after travel on day 8.
• Small communities are any NWT community that does not include the hub communities of Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, and Fort Smith, as well as Fort Simpson and Norman Wells.
• This requirement is in place because small communities do not have the same health care capacity as other communities. In some cases vaccination rates are still considered high-risk.
• This requirements applies to all travellers regardless of resident status.Partially Vaccinated or Unvaccinated Residents:
• NWT residents who have travelled to other parts of Canada and are partially vaccinated need to submit a SIP and can self-isolate for 8 days. They will need a negative day 8 exit test. o The same conditions apply to the traveller’s household members except no testing is required unless symptomatic.
• NWT residents who have travelled to other parts of Canada and are unvaccinated should submit a SIP and can self-isolate for 10 days. They will need a negative day 10 exit test. The same conditions apply to the traveler’s household members except no testing is required unless symptomatic.
For More information about COVID -19 Orders, Restrictions and Best Practices please go to https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/en Call 811 8:00am to 6:00pm (Call 1-833-378-8297 if outside NWT) or Email protectnwt@gov.nt.ca(link sends e-mail) with any questions on public health orders, enforcement, travel restrictions, and self-isolation.
Public Health Officers will continue to monitor the community and respond to calls related to COVID.