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Mandating Use of Face Masks Not in Yukon's Reopening Plan

Thursday, 23 July 2020 15:39

Responding to questions about the mandatory use of face coverings in Yukon at this week's COVID-19 update, Dr. Brendan Hanley said he does not recommend mandating the use of face masks.

The Government of Yukon announced at this week's COVID-19 update that Yukon now accounts for 13 cases of COVID-19. Two Yukoners traveling outside the territory recently contracted the virus and will remain out of the Yukon until they have recovered.

Phase three of Yukon's reopening plan begins August 1st, even as new spikes in COVID cases are reported across Canada. In spite of the initial controversy over the effectiveness of wearing face masks, several Canadian and US jurisdictions are now mandating the use of face coverings in response to rapidly rising new cases of the infection and the ever-growing death toll.

Responding to questions about the mandatory use of face coverings in Yukon at this week's COVID-19 update, Dr. Brendan Hanley said he does not recommend mandating the use of face masks beyond the current orders such as at the airport.

Dr. Hanley says the voluntary use of face masks in situations where other safety precautions cannot be followed is strongly encouraged, but he says mandating the use of face masks in Yukon is a long way off.

Yukon is scheduled to start phase three of our reopening plan on August 1st, 2020 and is expected to last as long as it takes to develop a vaccine.

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