Air and vehicle traffic into the territory may have slowed since a ban on non-essential travel was imposed March 21 but that doesn't mean it has completely stopped.
More than 500 people flew into Yellowknife over a month-long period from March 27 to April 29, and more than 9,000 vehicles -- including local traffic -- crossed the Deh Cho Bridge, according to Department of Infrastructure spokesperson Greg Hanna.
Flight and passenger numbers vary by the day, but on average the Yellowknife airport has received three flights from outside the territory per day since March 27.
In the last week of April, "flights from outside the NWT with passengers staying in Yellowknife included 11 Canadian North flights, four WestJet flights and three Air Canada flights," Hanna said.
"Since March 27, 565 passengers travelled to and stayed in Yellowknife from outside the territory," he said, adding another 242 flew in and stayed in the city between March 27 and April 2.
In addition to the reduced schedules of the other major airlines, Air North in the Yukon suspended all of its flights between Whitehorse and Yellowknife after the Arctic Winter Games were cancelled in early March.
The travel ban bars non-residents and non-essential workers from entering the territory but that hasn't entirely closed the door on errant visitors from arriving. On April 8 a Romanian traveller flew from Vancouver to Calgary to Yellowknife on a WestJet flight.
RELATED REPORTING: Visitor from B.C. says he flew to Yellowknife during travel ban
The man, who asked not to be named, said he was invited by a friend named "Derek" who wanted to learn more about building winter greenhouses.
He wasn't able to connect with the man and was directed by airport security to the Days Inn and Suites where he self-quarantined. He was able to buy a ticket out of Yellowknife on April 10.
RELATED REPORTING: Airlines serving NWT scale down flights, ramp up safety measures in response to Covid-19
New rules
People entering the NWT are now subject to stricter rules which were laid down on April 27 by chief public health officer Kami Kandola.
Residents returning home must now complete a self-isolation plan within 24 hours of returning and check in with ProtectNWT on the second, fourth, 10th and 14th day.
Flight crews, airline personnel and supply-chain workers who spend longer than 36 hours in the territory must self-isolate.
Travellers passing through the NWT to another destination must self-isolate if they stay longer than 12 hours.
Essential workers, support staff, construction workers and correctional officers not required to return to work right away must complete self-isolation plans. Their employers must apply to have workers to avoid isolation for 14 days before starting work (must submit form to ProtectNWT).
The stricter measures were brought in to guard against second or third waves of coronavirus.
On the road
Traffic data for all segments of the NWT highway system weren't yet available because the counters are still buried in frozen ground, said Hanna.
However, available data for crossings of the Deh Cho Bridge gives indication that although it is reduced, traffic remains steady.
For April, 9,030 vehicles drove over the bridge spanning the Mackenzie River, for an average of 301 vehicles per day. The data doesn't indicate which direction the vehicles were heading.
In April of 2019, 11,116 vehicles crossed the bridge, an average of 371 vehicles per day.
"This represents an 18.8 per cent reduction in traffic," said Hanna.
In March, 12,776 vehicles crossed the bridge, an average of 412 vehicles per day.
For the same month last year, 11,467 vehicles crossed, or an average of 370 vehicles per day.
That marks a traffic reduction of about 10 per cent for the month.
Hanna couldn't comment on whether the reductions were due to the pandemic or the border closure "as we do not track the origin or destination of vehicles," he said.
- with files from Simon Whitehouse