Two more Yukoners lost to COVID-19
The latest deaths are in addition to two reported last week.
Two Yukoners have lost their lives from COVID-19, bringing the territory’s pandemic death toll to 20.
Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott announced the deaths yesterday afternoon in a press release.
“I am saddened to announce these COVID-19 deaths in the Yukon and express my condolences to the family and friends of these individuals. Out of respect for the individuals and their families, we will not be releasing any additional information,” Dr. Elliott said in a statement.
The first COVID-19 death in the Yukon was reported in October of 2020.
Some public safety measures eased
Over the weekend some public health measures implemented at the beginning of the year intended to slow the spread of the surging Omicron variant of COVID-19 were relaxed.
Indoor recreational team sports for those 18 and under – like hockey, soccer, volley ball, and basket ball, are now limited to 25 people or 50 percent of venue capacity, whichever is less. That is up from the previous limit of 10.
Last week, Premier Sandy Silver announced that more public safety measures will be loosened over the next month as long as case counts stay low.
This coming weekend the same limit increase will apply to apply to sports for those 19 and over, as well as arts and recreational activities.
This week the two-household rule for indoor personal gatherings could be dropped but the limit of 10 people will remain.
Next week indoor organized events may be allowed to have 50 percent of venue capacity in attendance.
When it comes to bars and restaurants, they are expected to be able to operate within their normal hours and not close by 10pm starting on March 1.