Mr. Speaker, taking action to improve services and supports to reduce the number of Indigenous children and youth in the care is a priority for this government. The 2019-2020 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services that I will be tabling later today, shows a continued trend of overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth receiving protection and prevention services under our legislation. This is a national issue, Mr.
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Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform Members that the Chief Public Health Officer has released two public health advisories today.
The first indicates the two positive COVID-19 tests in Yellowknife first announced as presumptive cases on Friday have been confirmed. The individuals continue to safely isolate. We appreciate their cooperation with the investigation into contacts, and we wish them well.
A thorough contact investigation continues, initial signs are good.
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Good afternoon everyone.
I would like to begin with an update on the presumptive tests received by two people in Yellowknife.
Both individuals are part of the same household. One had traveled, while one had not. All isolation protocols seem to have been followed. The individual who had traveled isolated. The individual who had not traveled kept their distance in the home. And they isolated as soon as the other individual developed symptoms as-required.
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Good afternoon.
First, I’d like to acknowledge that those residents who received the presumptive positive COVID-19 tests are recovering with close monitoring from public health. Our thoughts are with them.
We recognize that we are not immune to COVID-19 in the NWT. That is why we have worked hard over the past several months to build capacity to manage the risk and be as responsive as possible when we have positive cases.
The NWT Help Line is experiencing issues with its phone system as some calls are going to voice message rather than staying in queue. The issue has been traced to iPhones, and occurs occasionally when the Help Line receives a higher than normal call volume. Help Line staff are working to address this issue.
In the meantime, if a call goes to the voice message, and residents are comfortable doing so, they can leave a confidential voice message with their name and phone number. A trained responder will call them back.
Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green has extended the territory-wide Public Health Emergency under the Northwest Territories’ Public Health Act on the advice of Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Dr. Kami Kandola
The latest extension continues through October 27, 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated considerably across Canada in recent weeks as the country’s caseload surged to its highest point in the pandemic.
Trick-or-treating is on this year and the Government of the Northwest Territories has released guidelines on how to celebrate safely.
The guidelines provide “must-do’s” based on continued public health orders in the territory; things to avoid; and best practices to stay safe for trick-or-treaters and treat-givers.
Key guidance on trick-or-treating includes:
· Trick-or-treat in outdoor spaces as much as possible.
· Wash your hands often. This is especially important:
Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green has extended the territory-wide Public Health Emergency under the Northwest Territories’ Public Health Act on the advice of Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Dr. Kami Kandola
The latest extension continues through October 13, 2020.
With record levels of COVID-19 transmission being reported in neighbouring jurisdictions, the risk to the Northwest Territories is increased. The extension of the Public Health Emergency is necessary in order to respond decisively to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 31, 2020 the new Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act came into force. The Department of Health and Social Services is asking NWT residents for input on the development of new regulations under the new Act respecting the sale of flavoured vapour products.
To enhance the Northwest Territories’ ability to detect and react to COVID-19, the Government of the Northwest Territories has expanded the number of in-territory rapid tests used for COVID-19, and procured additional equipment to expand this capacity further in the coming weeks.
