Deputy premier Diane Archie confirmed Oct. 5 an individual tested positive for Covid-19 Oct. 1 in Inuvik on her Facebook page.
Archie added the individual was in isolation and has reported to the OCPHO. Contact tracing is underway.
“I heard a rumour and confirmed with the Minister of Health that there is an active case In Inuvik today,” Archie told Inuvik Drum. “The health department is working flat out and the dashboard is updated daily Monday through Friday. I expect it’ll be updated tonight.”
Archie added she did not know how the individual contracted the virus nor how many people have been named as contacts.
“(The) Health (department) is doing contact tracing and will contact people and issue exposure notification as they see fit,” she said. “Keep wearing your mask and washing hands and following all the directions of the Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO).
“We all need to have compassion for this person and do our part to keep Covid transmission in Inuvik under control.”
An exposure notice was sent out to students at Aurora College on Oct. 2. That notice advised anyone feeling sick to isolate immediately for 14 days and arrange a Covid-19 test.
Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation also confirmed it was notified of the case, posting on Oct. 5 to advise residents of the community to stay vigilant, practice social distancing, wear masks and keep their hands washed.
Gwich’in Tribal Council Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik said Health Minister Julie Green advised him Oct. 5 that there was an active case in Inuvik and that contact tracing had been underway since the weekend and anyone who was directly exposed has been notified.
GNWT spokesperson Richard Makohoniuk confirmed the OCPHO first learned about the positive case Oct. 1 and is working under the assumption the infection is the Delta variant.
He added the OCPHO would not say how many people had contact with the infected individual prior to the Oct. 1 positive test.
