NWT reports first death related to COVID-19 outbreak grows to 219 active cases

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YELLOWKNIFE â€" The chief public health officer of the Northwest Territories has confirmed the territory’s first death related to COVID-19.

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Dr. Kami Kandola says in a news release that a N.W.T. resident died from COVID-19 late Monday night.

The territory is experiencing its worst outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic with 219 active cases.

There are 190 cases in the Sahtu region in the territory’s northwest â€" including 74 cases in Colville Lake and 84 cases in Fort Good Hope â€" and the territory says fewer than five people are in hospital.

Fort Good Hope and Colville Lake are currently under a 10-day lockdown period to contain the spread.

Kandola says she will not release any details about the person who died out of respect for their family.

“My thoughts are with the person’s family, friends, and community. At a time, when we are trying to keep an entire population healthy, this death reminds us that individuals are at the heart of this effort,” Kandola said in the release Tuesday.

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“Our office knows that the memories of the person who died will weave into the collective memories of their loved ones and live on.”

There are also 27 COVID-19 cases in Yellowknife, the territory’s capital city, and several exposure notices have been sent out about events held across the N.W.T.

The current outbreak began after a hand games tournament in the Sahtu region in early August was considered a super-spreader event.

The Canadian Rangers and nurses with the Canadian Red Cross have also been deployed to the region at the request of the territorial government.

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