Current COVID-19 testing and results information are available on the Health and Social Services website: www.gov.nt.ca/COVID-19

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Diane Thom, has declared a territory-wide Public Health Emergency under the Northwest Territories Public Health Act, empowering the Chief Public Health Officer to:

• authorize qualified people to provide additional aid and services as needed;
• expedite emergency licensing of additional health care providers;
• make orders and provide directions restricting or prohibiting travel to or from any area within the Northwest Territories;
• coordinate and provide for the delivery of medical services; and
• procure and provide for the distribution of medical supplies and equipment across the NWT.

GNWT program and service availability

To find out if a particular office, facility, or service has been affected, please visit our Program and Service Availability page for a continually updating list.

On Thursday, March 19 2020 the majority of GNWT employees will be asked to work from home. Managers and employees are in discussions to ensure appropriate work arrangements are in place and essential service workers are well supported.  The GNWT is committed to ensuring essential government operations and services to residents of the NWT continue.  Arrangements to support this will be put in place.

March 18, 2020 key announcements

Student Financial Assistance Program

• The GNWT confirmed students sponsored by the program will continue to receive payments while studying on a full-time basis regardless of the delivery model.

Income Assistance, Benefits and Subsidies

• All income security programs provided by ECE remain uninterrupted, including:
  • Income Assistance
  • NWT Child Benefit
  • Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit
  • Senior Home Heating Subsidy

Income security clients who have questions or concerns about their benefits are asked to reach out by phone, email or fax as much as possible rather than making in-person visits to service centres.

Aurora College Programs and Services

• All Aurora College programs and classes have been temporarily suspended for the week of March 23, while College staff identify which programs can resume using a distance learning format. Residences and student housing will remain open and operational for students.

Procurement Services

• At this time, procurement services have not been affected.

Warehouse and Surplus Services

• The Warehouse (located in Yellowknife) is now closed to the public. The monthly sale of surplus GNWT goods is cancelled until further notice.

Electric/Mechanical Permitting

• Inspections will continue, but in-person permits will not be issued.

Motor Vehicle Services

• All driver exams are cancelled. Other activities are being reviewed and updates will be provided at a later date. Clients are encouraged to use online, email and phone services where possible.

Recycling Depots

• The GNWT is closing all beverage container and electronic recycling depots in the NWT until further notice.

Government of Canada

For the latest updates from the Government of Canada, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html