Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

The City of Yellowknife is pleased to be planning the re-opening of City programs, services and facilities, in line with the GNWT’s recent ‘Emerging Wisely’ announcement. To ensure that we re-open safely, and are following capacity and other restrictions that are in place, many factors must be considered. The City would like to thank residents for your ongoing patience as staff work to do this in a planned and safe manner, as quickly as possible. The City’s top priorities remain public and staff safety, and continued essential service delivery.

The City is developing its’ re-opening schedule and will communicate all updates with the public, via the City webpage and on social media. Residents can also contact the City by emailing CustomerService@yellowknife.ca or calling 920-5600

• Framework for Recovery - City of Yellowknife COVID-19 Response to Emerging Wisely

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer, particularly after  sneezing, blowing your nose or coughing.
• Clean and disinfect in your home
• Stay home if you are sick
• If you are sick, avoid close contact with others
• Turn away and cover your nose/mouth when you sneeze/cough with a disposable tissue, or sneeze/cough into your elbow
• Throw used tissues into the garbage

• Connecting regularly with the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer at Health & Social Services (GNWT) to stay apprised of current information and potential/planned actions
• Planning for our role if COVID-19 becomes a significant issue for our community, and the actions we will take if a response is required through emergency planning and business continuity planning
• Increasing the work to keep any facilities and services remaining open facilities clean/virus free - both with our staff and with contracted janitorial service providers
• Ensuring information from the correct/expert sources is available and accessible
• The City has stepped up its efforts to sanitize public transit and public spaces, and signs have been posted at city buildings that remind those entering that they should stay away if they exhibit cough, fever or flu-like symptoms.

The health, safety and wellbeing of all community residents and our staff is the City’s top priority. To this effect, as a pre-emptive measure, the following City facilities will be closed to the public until further notice:

• Multiplex (open to rental groups)
• Yellowknife Community Arena (open to rental groups)
• Curling Club
• Visitor Centre

ESSENTIAL SERVICES

All essential City services are continuing and residents can still contact the City by calling 920-5600, emailing CustomerService@yellowknife.ca or visiting our website.

The City encourages residents to continue accessing City services online, by emailing CustomerService@yellowknife.ca or visiting our website wherever possible. The City asks all users who visit City facilities to respect the physical distancing guidelines as set out by the GNWT and to follow all signage in place at individual facilities. Everyone must check-in and out with the front desk which will be located at each facility entrance. Anyone experiencing fever, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose, headache, diarrhea, loss of appetite, loss of taste, or loss of smell should not enter.

PREVENTION

The City has increased efforts to sanitize and keep clean any facilities and services remaining open and operational, and has posted information in City facilities, to help inform residents on how to protect themselves and each other. 

Citizens and businesses are encouraged to keep their accounts current by using the City’s online services, making payments through their banks, mailing or dropping off cheques at the City Hall drop box, or calling City Hall. Payments may also be made in-person at City Hall between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. weekdays.

In recognition of the current extenuating circumstances, the City will continue to waive penalties on late payments until the end of this year. However it is important to note that as of January 1, 2021, interest will again accrue on ALL overdue amounts. Therefore, citizens and businesses are encouraged to ensure their accounts are current by this date. Those who are not able to do so are encouraged to contact the City to enter into a payment plan.

Until further notice, as ordered by the NWT Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola, all travel into the Northwest Territories is prohibited, with limited exceptions for residents and certain service providers, to combat COVID-19 in the territory. NWT residents returning from outside the NWT from any Canadian or international destination must self-isolate.

Those returning who do not have accommodations in which to self-isolate when they return should contact protectnwt@gov.nt.ca or 1-833-378-8297 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. 7 days a week. Each case will be assessed and appropriate measures will be taken to facilitate self-isolation.

For more information on Travel Restrictions for entering NWT, visit GNWT Public Health Services. 

• Taking advantage of the City’s Virtual City Hall and eServices, or your financial institute’s online services to make payments;
•  Use your library card to access the Yellowknife Public Library’s e-books and Lynda Library resources – find out more at www.yellowknife.ca/library;