That's a Wrap!
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First Covid-19 case found in Hay River Case related to Edmonton flight connecting to Hub; passengers have been contacted Volume 48 Issue 43 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2020 $1.00 (.95 + GST) That's THE a wrap! HHAY RIVER, NOUBRTHWEST TERRITORIES Community Masks now mandatory in town facilities News Traditional art contest at Friendship Centre Sports A flurry of training for Paul Bickford/NNSL photo lifeguards in A group of volunteers – including Sarah Slade – gathered at the airport on Dec. 12 to wrap up gifts for Secret Santa, the annual initiative to help needy families the Hub in Hay River and on the Hay River Reserve. The Secret Santa distribution of gifts is scheduled for Dec. 19. Publication mail Contract #40012157 "We are trying to actually accelerate that, if possible." 7 71605 00200 2 – Caroline Wawzonek, minister of ITI, thinks work on the fish plant will begin sooner than planned, page 8. 2 ▼ WEDNEsdaY, DECEMBER 16, 2020 www.hayriverhub.com www.hayriverhub.com WEDNEsdaY, DECEMBER 16, 2020 ▼ 3 Did we get it wrong? Hay River Hub is committed to getting facts and fact FILE names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in Hay nwt COvid-19 sitUatiON AS OF DEC. 15 River Hub, call 867-873-4031 or email editor@ssimicro. com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can. Active cases: 7 Days since first confirmed case: 270 Confirmed cases: 22 Days since last confirmed case: 0 Recovered cases: 15 Common symptoms: Fever, (60 per cent), muscle NEWS Completed tests: 8,886 aches or pain (53 per cent), cough (53 per cent), Negative tests: 8,865 Scan for the sore throat (33 per cent), diharrhea (13 per cent), latest GNWT Briefs Pending tests: 146 Covid-19 statistics difficulty breathing (seven per cent) Town mailing out Source: Office of the Chief Public Health Officer taxation reminders The Town of Hay River is in the process of mailing out reminders to property owners who are in arrears or delinquent on their municipal taxes. First case of Covid-19 "Property taxes were due Sept. 30," Sam Mugford, the town's director of finance, told the Dec. 7 online meeting of council. "So, any amounts owing are accruing interest." Mugford explained that property taxes that are considered delinquent have been owed for identified in Hay River more than a year, and those properties can be put up for tax sale in the subsequent year. "So, if there are balances owing from 2019, those properties are eligible to be put up for tax sale in 2021 per PATA, which is the legislation that we follow," he said, referring to the Property Assessment and Taxation Act of the territorial government. Winners announced for Campground Christmas The winners have been announced in the first-annual Campground Christmas, a competi- tion that created drive-thru displays of festive lights at Hay River Territorial Park. The colourful display was held over three evenings from Dec. 4 to Dec. 6. The idea was that individuals, groups and businesses rented campsites and decorated them in a contest that awarded prizes in two categor- ies – residential and business. In the business category, Castaway Cabins claimed first place, while second place went to the Hay River RCMP and third to Shirley's Dayhome. In the residential category, Candy Cane Ladies won first place, while Margaret Jerome took second place and Bonnie Crowther claimed Pixabay illustration third. The novel coronavirus – which causes Covid-19 – has arrived in Hay River. The GNWT announced on Dec. 12 that There were 24 teams in the competition. the first case of the disease has been identified in the community. Operation Gingerbread Dr. Kami Kandola cautions against misinformation proceeds well for town PAUL BICKFORD not considered contacts and they should con- "The Town of Hay River encourages Ross Potter, Hay River’s director of protect- [email protected] tinue following routine public health advice. residents to continue to follow the recom- ive services, says the municipality's involvement Public health has worked with the air- mendations and orders of the Office of the in Operation Gingerbread is going well. After months of the community avoiding lines to identify all individuals potentially at Chief Public Health Officer, including wear- Operation Gingerbread is the RCMP's annual a pandemic sweeping the world, the first risk on the flights. All of those passengers ing masks, maintaining physical distancing, traffic enforcement campaign against impaired case of Covid-19 has been identified in Hay have been contacted from the First Air increasing hand washing, limiting gather- driving, which began on Dec. 1 and will run to River. flight. Staff is in the process of reaching the ings, and practicing adherence to self-isola- New Year's Day. The case was announced on Dec. 12 in at-risk passengers on the Canadian North tion requirements," stated the message from The town's protective services specialist, also a news release from the Office of the Chief flight. Mayor Kandis Jameson. "These procedures known as the bylaw officer, has participated in Public Health Officer for the NWT. A small number of additional contacts are intended to mitigate risks surrounding check stops for the campaign. According to the release, the individual, have all been reached and provided isolation transmission of Covid-19." "We're kind of blown away by the number who was tested for Covid-19 after returning advice. Jameson concluded her message by of people that don't carry registration, insurance to the NWT from domestic travel, has been "Other contacts were limited," stated the advising residents to be safe and respectful. documentation and licence documentation with isolating since returning and is doing well. news release. "Public health has not identi- Coun. Keith Dohey took to Facebook on them," Potter told the Dec. 7 online meeting of An investigation identified two flights fied any further public exposures." Dec. 12 with a message for the community. town council. "I think this is a chance to remind in early December with some exposure risk Later in the evening of Dec. 12, Dr. Kami "I know that people are panicking a bit everybody that this is all stuff that you must related to the Covid-19 case in Hay River. Kandola, the chief public health officer for or anxious, nervous," he wrote. "That's okay, keep in your vehicles. Otherwise there could be Exposures on flights typically occur the NWT, took to Twitter to strongly reject we've been living in our little bubble for some repercussions that you don't really want when people are travelling before they misinformation about the case in Hay River. the last nine months while the rest of the to have." develop symptoms, since there are measures "There are no additional cases of Covid- world has been dealing with this situation in place to prevent people with symptoms 19 which have been identified at this time, constantly. We've been incredibly fortun- New rapid-testing devices from flying. no one being sought by the GNWT or any ate to be able to hold out this long, but this introduced across NWT The Public Health Agency of Canada other agency, and no one who is unaccount- was something we all knew, or should have Six communities will be receiving new considers that people seated three rows in ed for in our investigation," Kandola wrote. known was inevitable." Covid-19 rapid-testing devices that can produce front and three rows behind a person with "This situation is under control." Dohey said nobody wants to get Covid results in as little as 15 minutes, announced Covid-19 could be contacts. Kandola noted misinformation had been and spread it around, especially in the North the Health and Social Services Authorities on The news release identified the two circulating on Facebook since the release of where there is a vulnerable population. Dec. 9. flights related to the Hay River case as: the advisory about the Hay River case. "Let's remember to be kind to each other Hay River, Fort Smith, Norman Wells, Beh- • Canadian North, flight number 238, "Please – do not spread misinformation and treat each other with the respect we choko, Fort Simpson, and Yellowknife began from Edmonton to Yellowknife on Dec. and rumours," she said. "They hurt all of us would all hope to be treated with if it were using the Abbot ID Now devices on Dec. 7. 4, with rows four to 10 potentially by causing needless panic, and will prevent us," the councillor wrote. "I'm already seeing Plans are in place to expand to other commun- exposed. Everyone who had flown from people from coming forward for Covid-19 Facebook blowing up with accusations and ities in the coming weeks, according the news Edmonton would have been required to testing. Being kind to each other is how to innuendo. So let's all take a deep breath, put release. self-isolate. get through this – not with fear." the swords down and carry on doing what The NWT now as 21 rapid testing devices • First Air, flight number 608, from Yellow- On Dec. 12, the Town of Hay River has been recommended from the start. operational and their quick results "ensure rapid knife to Hay River on Dec. 4, with rows issued a public notice informing commun- "Follow the guidelines we all know, they results to support a quick public health response." seven to 13 potentially exposed. ity residents that Kandola's office had con- aren't that difficult and let's deal with this the – Brett McGarry The Office of the Chief Public Health firmed the community's first recorded case way we deal with everything in Hay River.