A new case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Yellowknife.
NNSL file photo
The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer said in an April 21 news release that the incident is related to domestic travel outside the Northwest Territories.
The person is currently self-isolating.
An investigation is ongoing regarding the incident. The OCPHO contract tracing staff say they will reach out to all those who had contact with the person.
"Public health has followed up with the individual to ensure this person is supported," states the release.
The news release states that a risk for exposure has been identified at the Taste of Saigon on April 19 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m..
"Everyone who was in this location at these times must self-isolate at home for the next 14 days and contact the Yellowknife Public Health Unit at 867-767-9120 to get additional advice," according to OCHP's announcement.
"Those you live with must also self-isolate for 14 days if you cannot safely self-isolate at home away from them."
Chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola is asking people self-isolating during those two weeks to monitor themselves for symptoms closely.
Specifically, people should watch for a fever, a new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, malaise (generally feeling unwell), muscle aches, and fatigue.
Other symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of sense of smell or taste and a loss of appetite.
"If you develop any of the (those) symptoms, no matter how mild, we are asking you contact the Yellowknife Public Health Unit to be assessed," she said.
"If you are experiencing shortness of breath at-rest, call 9-1-1 and let them know you may have had an exposure to COVID-19."
Wastewater advisory
Earlier this week, the OCPHO had reported that there was an undetected case of COVID-19 in Yellowknife following wastewater sampling.
"The individual got tested after an advisory was issued April 19 asking anyone who had travelled outside the Northwest Territories and was self-isolating or self-monitoring in Yellowknife from April 14-17 to get tested as wastewater surveillance revealed undetected cases of COVID-19 during this period," Kandola stated.
"An undetected infection of COVID-19 uncovered in less than 48 hours is a positive development as the territory works to ensure risk of community transmission is contained in the City of Yellowknife."
The advisory from April 19, however remains in place, according to the news release.
"While this new infection is travel related, more information from diagnostic testing and additional wastewater analysis is needed to confidently assess whether there remains a risk of community transmission," she stated.
For more information on how to get tested and to read the full release, please visit the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services website.