The COVID-19 pandemic in the Northwest Territories is part of an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

), an infectious disease caused by

severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is a strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the respiratory illness responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The virus previously had a No ...

(SARS-CoV-2). As of February 23, 2022, there have been 8,495 confirmed cases in

Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories (abbreviated ''NT'' or ''NWT''; french: Territoires du Nord-Ouest, formerly ''North-Western Territory'' and ''North-West Territories'' and namely shortened as ''Northwest Territory'') is a federal territory of Canada. ...

with 7,999 recoveries and 19 deaths. On March 21, 2020, the

reported its first case of COVID-19; the individual had travelled to British Columbia and Alberta before returning home to

Yellowknife Yellowknife (; Dogrib: ) is the capital, largest community, and only city in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, about south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the ...

. __TOC__

Timeline

2020

The

declared a

state of emergency A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to be able to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state du ...

on March 18. On March 21, the territory reported its first case of COVID-19; the individual had travelled to British Columbia and Alberta before returning home to

. By May 8, the Northwest Territories has banned all non-resident travellers into the Northwest Territories. All residents travelling into the Northwest Territories are required to self-isolate in

Inuvik Inuvik (''place of man'') is the only town in the Inuvik Region, and the third largest community in Canada's Northwest Territories. Located in what is sometimes called the Beaufort Delta Region, it serves as its administrative and service cen ...

, Hay River, or Fort Smith for at least 14 days. On October 20, one resident from Inuvik was tested positive. The next day, two residents in Yellowknife were tested positive for the virus. The total confirmed cases in the territory raised to eight. On October 24, it was reported that a Yellowknife resident working at the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine tested positive for COVID-19. The total confirmed cases in the territory raised to nine. The first vaccine, of Moderna type, was administered in Yellowknife on December 31, 2020.

2021

Beginning on May 4, 2021, Northwest Territories expanded its vaccine eligibility to 12 years and up. On June 9, 2021, the government announced reopening depending on vaccination rates with restrictions removed in the fall. Mask requirements were lifted on June 28, 2021, for multiple cities. Chief Justice Louise Charbonneau said the judiciary could consider dismissing some charges due to 66 cases in a "massive" backlog of jury trials. A major outbreak occurred in mid to late August in the

Sahtu Region The Sahtu Region is an administrative region in Canada's Northwest Territories. Coterminous with the settlement region described in the 1993 Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, of the Sahtu is collectively owned by its Indi ...

after a hand games tournament in

Fort Good Hope Fort Good Hope (formerly ''Fort Hope'', ''Fort Charles'', also now known as the ''Charter Community of K'asho Got'ine''), is a charter community in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located on a peninsula between Jackf ...

in early August. Canadian Red Cross and the

Canadian Rangers , colors =Red and green , march = , mascot = , battles = Second World WarCold War , anniversaries = , notable_commanders = , identification_symbol_2_label = , current_commander = Lieutenant-General Jean-Marc Lanthier, Commander of th ...

were sent to help these communities. The territory had its first COVID-19 fatality from this outbreak. The territory is experiencing ongoing surge of cases. The territory has been dealing with an Omicron-driven surge in cases since late-December 2021. A record-high active caseload of 527 was reported on January 6, 2022.

References

External links

Government of the Northwest Territories – COVID-19 in NWT

Tracking COVID-19 in the Northwest Territories
{{COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

Disasters in the Northwest Territories

2020 in the Northwest Territories

Northwest_Territories The Northwest Territories (abbreviated ''NT'' or ''NWT''; french: Territoires du Nord-Ouest, formerly ''North-Western Territory'' and ''North-West Territories'' and namely shortened as ''Northwest Territory'') is a federal territory of Canada. ...

2021 in the Northwest Territories