Behchok schools close, more than 1,000 close contacts linked to Yellowknife school outbreak

UPDATE, May 4, 2021, 3:21 p.m.: The Northwest Territories government added more COVID-19 public exposure noticed onMay 4. The latest exposurelist can be found here. To read more about who is and isn't considered a contact to the cases, check out this Facebook post byKam Lake MLACaitlin Cleveland here.

Northwest Territories Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola says more than1,000 people have beenidentified as close contacts inconnection to the outbreak in N.J. Macpherson School in Yellowknife.

As of midday Monday, there were 14 peoplewith confirmed COVID-19 cases and another six probable cases.That's up from eight confirmed cases announced Monday morning and six announced on Sunday.

Testing is ongoing and the office of the chief public health officeris awaiting lab confirmation, Kandola said in a news release.

There are new restrictions in Behchokand theTchCommunity Services Agency has closedthe schools.

"The closures are out of concern that student and staff from Behchok had attended group events in Yellowknife over the weekend, such as a multi-school soccer tournament," Kandola said.

On Saturday, atwo-weekclosure of N.J. MacphersonSchool was announced by officials. On Sundayall schools in Yellowknife, Ndil and Dettah were ordered closed.

There is now mandatory maskingin public buildings inBehchok and all organized activities, such as sports groups for those under 18, have been cancelled. Masks are already mandatory in public buildings inYellowknife, Ndil and Dettah.

On Monday afternoon, the city also said people under 18 years old are not allowed to go to city facilities at this time and thatanyone visiting a city facility will need to bringgovernment-issued identification, which will be required upon entry.

Public health is actively reaching out to inform those identified as close contacts, the release says. There arealsomultiple exposure locations in Yellowknife.

"Please pay close attention to the required actions if you or any of your household members were at the following locations during the following times," Kandola said in the release.

The exposure notices are as listed below:

The territory isn't considering it a community-wide outbreak yet, the release says, as it is still investigating "other transmission chains." All of the confirmed and probable cases are so farconnected to one large cluster, Kandola said in the release, "linked by time, location and common exposures."

Kandola says non-essential travel in and out of Yellowknife, Dettah, Ndil and Behchok should be suspended or deferred until further notice.

She says people should still attend their necessary medical appointments in Yellowknife, and working from home is highly encouraged.