Update 9:22 a.m. Wednesday Jan 20: The two additional diagnoses of COVID-19 in Fort Liard have been confirmed, meaning there’s five active cases of COVID-19 in the community.
This brings the territory’s total of COVID-19 case up to 30.
Update 10:13 a.m. Monday Jan 18: Fort Liard has been put under a two week shutdown as the total number of cases in the community rises to three.
All gatherings, both inside and outside are prohibited for two weeks, as of Saturday.
A COVID-19 diagnosis was initially reported on Saturday in the community.
That case, plus two others, have since been confirmed in the community.
NWT’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola said there are over 50 contacts with the individuals diagnosed with the virus in the community.
However, she said there is no evidence of a public exposure risk yet.
A positive COVID-19 diagnosis has been reported in Fort Liard.
The diagnosis is related to travel. An investigation into any exposure risk is in its early stages, but “there is some likelihood of additional COVID-19 cases being discovered based on what is known,” according to a statement from NWT’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Kami Kandola.
The individual is currently isolating and doing well.
“If you are in Fort Liard, we recommend avoiding any gatherings of any size with those you do not live with for the time being,” Kandola added.
This diagnosis in Fort Liard comes after wastewater sampling in Hay River detected traces of COVID-19, and a COVID-19 diagnosis was reported in Yellowknife with no known source.
