Corrected to clarify who should not visit hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is telling all individuals who have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days to self-isolate. This includes travel to Alaska. Dr. Brendan Hanley is directing that all Yukoners avoid visiting hospitals or long-term care facilities in the territory, unless a family member is at end of life or gravely ill. Active screening of visitors will be introduced in the territory's hospitals.
The travel restriction is accompanied by several new restrictions including the following:
- Mass gatherings of more than 50 people are banned.
- Parents or caregivers who are able to keep their children home from spring break daycamps, or daycare, are requested to do so. Fewer children in camps or daycares will help to limit any spread.
- People who can work from home are requested to do so. Employers are asked to look for ways to support employees to work from home where possible.
We do not have a confirmed case in Yukon but we are very likely to see COVID-19 arrive here soon. By reinforcing social distancing measures and by requiring self-isolation of travellers, we have a chance to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Yukon. This is our chance to work together to get ahead of the pandemic. This is our time to really be Team Yukon.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley
There will be processes in place to address self-isolation of essential workers such as health-care providers and first responders.
To date, more than 100 Yukoners have been tested for COVID-19.
To date there are no confirmed cases in Yukon.
For more information visit www.yukon.ca/COVID-19
Public Health Agency of Canada contact line: 1-833-784-4397
Pat Living
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-335-1531
patricia.living@gov.yk.ca