Yellowknife, Canada has 20 active cases of COVID-19, no community transmission so far
7 probable cases, more than 1,000 close contacts related to outbreak at school
There are now 20 active and seven probable cases of COVID-19 in Yellowknife, all linked to the outbreak at N.J. Macpherson School, which was first detected on the weekend.
In a news release Tuesday evening, Northwest Territories Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola said the situation is “evolving quickly.”
Public health is still reaching out to inform contacts. There are more than 1,000 connected to the outbreak at the school.
“Everyone in [Yellowknife] and surrounding areas should continue to review public exposures and follow the directions on the [territorial government’s] COVID-19 website,” Kandola said in a statement.
She also said “there is no evidence of community transmission in Yellowknife or surrounding areas at present,” based on extensive investigations.
This week a number of businesses and facilities announced closures as a response to the COVID-19 cases.
There is also more clarification here on who is and is not considered a close contact.
A list of public exposure risk locations has also been listed. Those can be found here.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: 1st court date for southern couple accused of sneaking into northern Canadian community for vaccines, CBC News
Finland: Mysterious coronavirus variant in Arctic Finland is rare US-Mexican strain, Yle News
Denmark/Greenland: Greenland authorities buoyed by high demand for COVID-19 vaccine, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: Iceland extends COVID-19 restrictions by one week, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Norway extends border closure with Finland due to pandemic, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Norway closes borders over fears of virus, but exempts Russian fishermen from severely infected border region, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: COVID-19 strategy darkens Sweden’s image in the Nordics, Radio Sweden
United States: Alaska politicians send Trudeau letter saying they’re “shocked” over Canada’s COVID-19 cruise ship ban, Eye on the Arctic
