Northerners looking to shed their vintage dishware and unused Bowflex machines at outdoor garage and yard sales this spring will have to wait.
Blair McBride/NNSL photo
While the territory moved into the first phase of its Covid-19 recovery plan on May 15, yard sales — normally a common sight this time of year — are still prohibited.
“Yard sales are not currently allowed, as by their nature they have an often large, relatively uncontrolled flow of people who could be looking closely at items and standing very closely together,” stated Department of Health and Social Services spokesperson Mike Westwick in an email to NNSL Media.
According to the health department's website, it's "not possible to mitigate" Covid-19 risks or enforce physical distancing requirements at outdoor yard and garage sales.
Phase one of the territory’s “Emerging Wisely” strategy is just the first step in a three-pronged plan.
Stressing the need to continue adhering to physical distancing requirements, the first phase of the plan gives some businesses and organizations — hair salons, massage therapy clinics, chiropractors, museums and art galleries — the green light to reopen.
It also impacts outdoor activities. Outside gatherings can now include up to 25 people as long as physical distancing measures are followed.
Yard and garage sales won’t be allowed, however, until the third phase of the GNWT’s plan.
“In the plan, we currently have outdoor yard sales slotted in for phase three of our eased measures,” stated Westwick.
The government’s strategy includes an online chart that breaks down various activities and the risk they pose amid Covid-19.
Outdoor garage and yard sales, categorized as mass gatherings, are deemed “medium high” across three categories: risk, intensity of contact and volume of contact.
In comparison, outdoor events like parades and musical festivals earn a "high" for risk, intensity and volume risk designations across the board.
Phase one has been tentatively set for mid-to-late June. Dates for the beginning of phase three of the Emergency Wisely plan have not yet been announced.