State of emergency declared in the Yukon after a rise in COVID-19 cases

Tuesday, 9 November 2021 08:05

By Dylan MacNeil

Yukoners are once again required to mask up.

The government of Yukon has declared a state of emergency under the Civil Emergency Measures Act in response to a surge of COVID-19 cases in the territory. Over the past three days there have been over 80 new infections, bringing the Yukon’s active case count to 169.

After three months of no masks, face coverings are once again mandatory all indoor public settings and in outdoor public settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

There are also limits on gathering sizes. If everyone is vaccinated you can have a maximum of 10 people from two households, or if people are not vaccinated, only household members can gather.

There are also limits on organized gatherings, seated ticketed events, and faith-based and cultural gatherings.

Bars and restaurants are now limited to six people per table and everyone must be vaccinated. Mingling and dancing is not allowed.

The measures will be enforced starting this Saturday.

The State of Emergency will be in place for up to 90 days.

Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott said in a statement last night, “we are at a point in the pandemic that we have not been in before and one that we hoped we would not see. A rapidly escalating COVID-19 situation is developing in the Yukon and is threatening our health care system. We need to take immediate steps to break the cycle of widespread community transmission we are seeing right now and will likely continue to see over the coming days. It is more important than ever to get vaccinated and practise the Safe 6 plus 1.”

The previous state of emergency ended on August 26 after the territory’s number of cases dropped, it lasted for 17 months. When premier Sandy Silver announced the lifting of that state of emergency he said, “if we have to go back, we have to go back.”

Cases

Out of the 169 active cases in the Yukon, 132 are Whitehorse residents, one is a resident of Burwash Landing, four are residents of Carcross, 20 are residents of Carmacks, one is a resident of Pelly Crossing, and one is a resident of Teslin.

School outbreak declared

Dr. Elliott has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at École Whitehorse Elementary School, impacting the grade 4/5 split class. A press release reads, “the outbreak is specific to the class itself and students who are not affected by other exposure notices should continue to go to school.”

Drive-thru testing

A drive-thru testing clinic will open tomorrow in Whitehorse in the Centennial Motors wash bay at 91628 Alaska Highway. It will be open seven days a week from 8:30am to 5:30pm. No appointment is needed to get tested.