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State of Emergency could be lifted next month if COVID-19 situation gets better

Wednesday, 14 July 2021 13:17

By Dylan MacNeil

Premier Sandy Silver speaking at this morning's COVID-19 update. (Facebook - Government of Yukon)

Case numbers in the territory are slowly going down.

The territory is six weeks into a COIVD-19 outbreak that has claimed the lives of four Yukoners but case numbers are now slowly going down.

At this morning’s weekly update, Premier Sandy Silver said that we are in a much better place than we were last month and if the situation keeps improving, the state of emergency could be lifted next month.

Starting Monday, daycares will be able to operate at full capacity once again after it was recommended that parents keep kids home. Staff will have to wear masks and not show up for work if they are feeling ill.

Organized gatherings can return to 200 people indoors and out with mask use and social distancing. Unorganized gatherings can also return to 20 indoors and 50 outdoors if people are fully vaccinated, but Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley says that if those in attendance are unvaccinated, people should stick to six.

The Premier says that the federal government has approved the territory’s request for support, and more help is on the way.

“This week, the federal government approved our government’s request for assistance to support our COVID-19 response. Additional public health officials are here and more are coming. They’re coming to the territory to help with coordination and contact tracing, social supports, to ship laboratory equipment and personal protective equipment as well,” said Silver.

Dr. Hanley says the goal now is to get 95 percent of the population vaccinated.

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