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, effective January 4, 2022.

The latest extension continues through January 18, 2021. 

The Public Health Emergency is required to continue to decisively respond to shifts in the NWT’s own public health situation, and maintain preventative measures.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) is excited to announce a new exhibit featuring the artwork of Germaine Arnattaujuq is now on view at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC).

The exhibit is on display until May 29, 2022 and can be viewed Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Shane Thompson has extended the State of Emergency in the City of Yellowknife. This extension is being made under s.14 of the Emergency Management Act.

The extension continues through January 19, 2022.

This State of Emergency was initially instated to address the need for additional shelter space as a result of ongoing capacity limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

January Diploma Exams for Northwest Territories’ (NWT) students have been cancelled due to the recent change in students’ return to school dates after the holiday break and the evolving COVID-19 situation.

This decision applies to the January 2022 exams only. Decisions around the April and June diploma exams and the Alberta Achievement Tests (AATs) will be made at a later date.

The NWT Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) is immediately issuing the following testing guidelines for anyone who receives a POSITIVE rapid antigen test. These are the take-home tests that are provided at airports, through NWT schools, and through the DetectNWT program. Rapid antigen tests will also become available through health centres as soon as possible. They are currently available at the COVID-19 testing clinic in Yellowknife for those who meet eligibility.

Over the holiday season the number of COVID-19 cases, including the Omicron variant, has increased throughout Canada and in the Northwest Territories (NWT) and there has been significant travel both in and out of the NWT. With the increased risk of transmission, and the current state of COVID-19 cases throughout Canada, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) has recommended that schools remain closed for the first week of January. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment supports the recommendation, and all NWT education bodies have agreed to it.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) released its Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) What We Heard and Funding Programs Review reports today.

The Department of Health and Social Services is seeking feedback on the proposed Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Regulations, to strengthen the protection of residents, by limiting the sale of flavoured vapour products. Input received from public and stakeholder engagement in 2020 has helped inform the development of these proposed regulations.

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Shane Thompson has extended the State of Emergency in the City of Yellowknife. This extension is being made under s.14 of the Emergency Management Act.

The extension continues through January 5, 2022.

This State of Emergency was initially instated to address the need for additional shelter space as a result of ongoing capacity limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NWT Department of Health and Social Services has announced a six-month transition period for eligible Extended Health Benefit and Métis Health Benefit program clients to switch prescriptions to biosimilar drugs from their original biologic drug. A biosimilar drug is one that is designed to have active properties similar to those of a drug that has previously been licensed. Biosimilar drugs have previously been referred to as “generic” drugs.

After the six-month transition period, coverage under the respective programs will be prioritized for biosimilar drugs only.