Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I am not going to say too much today, but I just want to say really quickly, about this COVID-19 issue we are dealing with, if anything, history has taught us that we should always make sure that we control how our people traffic is being regulated and make sure that we contain this sort of thing because, again, history has taught us that, if we ignore it, it could be very costly in terms of lives. I don't want to see that. I would rather see our government be proactive on this, so I had a quick question for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I am kind of concerned about the small communities. Does the Minister have any backup nurses in case the current nurses are unable to work? Marsi cho.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to talk about this coronavirus, the COVID-19, and I want to advise the following. The health and social services system has been preparing for a potential NWT outbreak since early February, based on emerging information from the World Health Organization and the federal government. The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer has developed guidelines for Northwest Territories health professionals and has issued regular alerts so that the health and social services workforce is being kept informed. Clinical resources will continue to be developed to reflect the latest advice from the international and national infectious disease experts, with guidance from the Chief Public Health Officer and staff, and is being provided to the frontline daily.
The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority held a first staff information session last week, where the Chief Public Health Officer presented on the coronavirus. The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority has also been retraining staff on the use of personal protection equipment, hand hygiene, proper hand-washing techniques, and have provided education sheets on the COVID-19 over the last four weeks. Presently, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority have scheduled weekly all-Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority staff calls to provide information. Should the frequency of these calls needs to be increased, that will be done. I do want to talk a little bit more about the process, if that is okay; I think this is important, and I just want to go further into detail. I apologize to the House.
The swab testing kit for coronavirus is a standard nasopharyngeal swab. The swab resembles a large Q-tip, that is used to swab the back of your throat. This is a standard item stocked in all of our facilities. I have been assured that the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services has also been delivering more swabs to all of the staffed health centres. Once a test is taken, it is sent to the provincial lab in Alberta, with a three-to-seven-day turnaround time for results, depending on your location.
The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority wants to ensure that all of their testing for COVID-19 are being directed to individuals who meet the screening criteria. The criteria for screening includes people returning from outside the Northwest Territories who develop symptoms after 14 days of recent travel. Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. So, if residents have travelled and are developing symptoms, they are being asked to self-isolate, contact their local health centre or the public health unit for information on how to coordinate testing, and also refer to the department's frequently asked questions posted on the website along with the attached information sheets on self-monitoring and self-isolation for more information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thanks for that detailed response. It's important. I think we had to get that aired out for the public and let them know and be aware. I did not get a response back, though, from the Minister. Is there a backup plan to have medical staff and nurses for our nursing stations in the territories?
Yes, there is a backup plan.
I heard the Minister mention a little bit about the testing and, forgive me, is it nasopharyngeal swabs? I hope I got the pronunciation correct. I am going to ask the Minister now: will a new influx of testing, will that strain our resources to do that? Because we should expect an influx of testing now, so, if we could get the Minister to respond. Marsi cho.
In my long summary here, I think I did say in there that, yes, we are increasing supplies to the health centres and to the communities.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi. I have one final question, again about the small communities. If there is anybody who wants to be tested in the small communities, what is the process for that? Marsi cho.
There is information on the website about what the process is, but the process is you call the 1-800 number or the number that is provided closest to your health centre and you will get a call back on the process for an assessment. Once you get the assessment, then the department will respond from there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
