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.

NWT schools will be closed from January 4 – 7, 2022; there will be no online classes/remote learning during this time. Schools will open and students will return to in-class learning on Monday, January 10th, 2022.

This will allow those who have travelled to stay in their NWT residence for a minimum of 72 hours, follow their Self-Isolation Plans (SIP), as appropriate, and help keep their communities safe from the potential spread of COVID-19.

Students who have received a rapid self-test kit prior to the holidays should test themselves the day before school starts. 

This proactive approach is intended to prevent the introduction of COVID-19 into the school setting, which could result in an outbreak and longer school closures. 

For media requests related to school operations:

Briony Grabke
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Department of Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Briony_grabke@gov.nt.ca
 

For media requests related to public health recommendations:

COVID Communications
COVID-19 Secretariat
Department of Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
COVID_Comms@gov.nt.ca