COVID-19 public health notifications issued for Watson Lake

Yukon Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley today confirmed three additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the territory’s total to 20 cases since the first infection was announced on March 22, 2020.

A source of origin is still being investigated and contact tracing is actively underway.

This is the fourth incidence of infection in a rural community since COVID-19 was reported in Yukon.

The community is being identified because of possible cases of exposure at three locations in Watson Lake.

  • Watson Lake Foods – Super A – October 8 and October 16
  • Home Hardware – October 7 and October 10
  • Big Horn Motel – October 7 through 9 and 13 through 16

People from Watson Lake who were in these locations and have symptoms should contact the Watson Lake Community Hospital at 867-536-4444 to arrange for testing.

Other Yukoners who may have been in these locations and who are experiencing symptoms should contact the COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centre at 867-393-3083 in Whitehorse or the community health centre in their community.

Anyone with symptoms, even mild, should seek out testing and can use the self-assessment tool at Yukon.ca as a guide or call 811.

The symptoms to watch for are: 

  • Fever/chills
  • Cough
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Loss of sense of taste or smell
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Muscle aches
Media contact 

Patricia Living
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-335-1531
patricia.living@gov.yk.ca

News release #: 
20-308