N.W.T. reports record number of COVID-19 cases in territory with 378

A record number of COVID-19 cases was reported in the Northwest Territories Tuesday.

The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) said in a news release there are 378 active cases across the N.W.T. It's an increase from the previous record of 341 reported cases Friday, and 340 reported on Monday.

The N.W.T. currently has thehighest rate of active COVID-19 cases in the country more than 1.5 times the rate ofAlberta, which has the second highest.

Cases continue to rise in Yellowknife, Dettah and Ndil, where 243 cases are being reported, an increase of 23 from Monday.

The OCPHO also issued public exposure notices for the following locations and times in Yellowknife:

• Canadian Tire on Sept. 29 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on Oct. 1 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Walmart on Oct. 1, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Staples on Oct. 2, from 11 a.m. to 11:30 .m.
• Vietnam Noodle House on Oct. 3, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Individuals who were at these locations at these times should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status. If any symptoms develop, individuals are required to self-isolate and arrange for testing.

Yellowknifers can arrange for testing by booking online or calling 767-9120.

Cases outside Yellowknife area

The number of cases also rose in Behchok. There are now 119 cases being reported in the community compared to 105 on Monday.

In its release, the OCPHO clarified that the officers enforcingnew travel rules issued Monday in the community, and staffing checkpoints, are appointed public health officers.

There is one new case reported in Inuvik, where the local college issued a notice about it and sent emails to students over the weekend.

There are eight cases reported in the South Slave, five in Fort Smith, an increase of one since Monday, and three in Hay River and K'atl'odeeche First Nation, the same number as on Monday.

There are also three cases reported in Wekwet and one in What, the same as there were yesterday.

There is now only one case reported in the Sahtu region, in Fort Good Hope. There is no longer an active case in Dln.

There is one new active case in utsel Ke.

The number of cases has decreased at the territory's mines where only one case is being reported at the Tch All Season Road work site compared to two on Monday. There are also no more cases at the Diavik and Ekati diamond mines where, on Monday, there were two cases reported at each mine.