Everyone is urged to Protect Our Elders in two new campaigns to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC), Music NWT, and the GNWT have teamed up to run these campaigns.

Our goal is to build solidarity during the COVID-19 crisis, and get residents to recognize that changing behaviors isn’t just about them – it’s about the people they love, and our most vulnerable community-members.

Protect Our Elders: A Community Campaign To Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

Today, Premier Caroline Cochrane announced the appointment of Mr. Russ Neudorf as the Associate Deputy Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA). This appointment has been made to support the ongoing work of the department and in particular the operations of the Emergency Management Organization as it leads activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The attached is being released on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Effective March 24, 2020, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), Paulie Chinna, declared a territory-wide  State of Emergency under the Emergency Management Act to support ongoing efforts to protect public health in the Northwest Territories.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) R.J. Simpson met with Northwest Territories (NWT) Education Leaders and the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association (NWTTA) via teleconference on Tuesday, March 24 to discuss the status of JK-12 education in the territory as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency.

Government of the Northwest Territories departments are working together with community governments and other organizations and agencies to monitor and respond to potential threats to public safety, communities and critical infrastructure in the Northwest Territories.

To that effect, an agreement aimed at providing reassurance to Northwest Territories (NWT) residents, and ensure there are no disruptions to electricity services in the North during the COVID-19 pandemic, was signed late last week.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Diane Thom, is announcing the following adjustments to health and social services operations that create new pathways to access care, while also enhancing social distancing. These steps are being taken to ensure the health system can reserve and reallocate existing resources, protect our vulnerable populations, and reduce potential for spread and exposure for our staff and the public.

Starting immediately the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) will:

NWT Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola is preparing to make an order effective March 21, 2020 prohibiting all travel (by air, land, and port) into the Northwest Territories, with limited exceptions, to combat COVID-19 in the territory.

Furthermore, Dr. Kandola will also order those returning to the territory, to self-isolate in Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Hay River, or Inuvik.     

This measure will be required to ensure protection of residents of our smallest communities as people return north.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)  recognizes the difficulties that the COVID-19 pandemic and health measures being taken to combat the virus’ spread is causing NWT businesses, service providers, residents, governments and non-government organizations. Today, Minister Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Finance and Minister Katrina Nokleby, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and Infrastructure, announced Economic Relief Measures that will help minimize expenses and keep cash available for immediate needs in this time of uncertainty.

On Thursday, March 19 2020 the majority of Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) employees began working from home. This decision was made to ensure that the GNWT is implementing social distancing measures as recommended by the Chief Public Health Officer to assist in mitigating and containing the possible risk to health of all NWT residents.