News

Northern Health is reminding residents about the importance of ensuring safe and small gatherings, heading into the Labour Day long weekend.

The recent trend of increasing COVID-19 cases, many linked to large gatherings and other social interactions, has also been noted in the NH region. The Northeast health service delivery area (HSDA) is currently the most active in terms of new cases being identified through testing and contact tracing. And a COVID-19 public exposure alert, for recent events and gatherings in the Prespatou region, remains in effect.

In addition to the news that Northern Health has awarded the contract for the redevelopment of the GR Baker Memorial Hospital Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit, construction of a new kitchen at the Hospital will begin this fall.

True Construction Ltd. of Kamloops, the team working on the larger Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit project, will begin construction of the modern kitchen facilities in September 2020, with expected completion in April 2021.

Northern Health, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), and the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority (NVHA) are working closely following community notification of a suspected COVID-19 exposure in the Nass Valley.

Nisga’a Valley Health has requested that all attendees at recent gatherings between August 21st and 25th, contact the NVHA Clinic in their community to identify as a potential contact.

Northern Health is pleased to announce that the contract for Phase II construction on the GR Baker Memorial Hospital Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit redevelopment has been awarded to True Construction Ltd. of Kamloops.

True Construction will begin construction work on the redevelopment project in September 2020, with expected occupancy in Spring 2022.

COVID-19 testing and contact tracing has allowed Northern Health to identify recent events and gatherings in the Prespatou region where individuals may have been exposed to COVID-19 but we are unable to identify and follow up with all contacts.

Individuals who may have attended any events, service, or gatherings (however large or small) in the Prespatou region where social distancing or appropriate masking was not in place or being observed since early August are asked to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested if they begin to exhibit symptoms.

Northern Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer has declared an end to a community outbreak of COVID-19 on Haida Gwaii.

The outbreak was declared July 24th, and the last of a total of 26 outbreak-related cases was reported on August 6th. There have been no new cases since that date; there are no active cases, and public health officials are now confident there are no further chains of transmission of COVID-19 related to the outbreak.

Northern Health and the First Nations Health Authority continue to work with Council of the Haida Nation and municipal governments on Haida Gwaii, in response to the COVID-19 community outbreak declared on July 24th. To date, there have been a total of 26 lab-confirmed cases related to the outbreak; as of today, all of the cases are now considered recovered, and there are no active cases.

COVID-19 testing and contact tracing has allowed Northern Health to identify a recent event in Alberta where individuals may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Individuals who attended the It Is Time Canada event in Deadwood, Alberta, between July 30 and August 2, are asked to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19,  and self-isolate and seek testing if they begin to exhibit symptoms. Contact tracing and testing has also identified that some individuals may be at risk of secondary transmission, from contact with cases related to attendance at the event.