Northwest Territories reinstates mask mandate over growing COVID-19 cases

YELLOWKNIFE — The Northwest Territories has reinstated its mask mandate amid a growing number of COVID-19 cases. 

Masks will be mandatory in all indoor public spaces starting Thursday morning.

The territory’s chief public health officer, Dr. Kami Kandola, said masks are one of the best protections against the Delta variant, which she noted is spreading quickly across the region.

“We are seeing ongoing community transmission and we are seeing a significant rise in cases,” said Kandola.

“We know many people are scared.”

Kandola also extended a lockdown order in the communities of Colville Lake and Fort Good Hope until Sept. 4. Most of the territory’s 226 cases are in those two communities, which have been in lockdown since Aug. 15.

This is the worst outbreak of COVID-19 in the territory, which reported its first death due to the virus earlier this week.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on Aug. 25, 2021.

The Canadian Press