On Sunday, August 29, a resident who transferred to Copper Ridge Place from the Whitehorse General Hospital tested positive for COVID-19. The person is in isolation and is otherwise in good health. Residents and staff in the same unit are being monitored and testing is being conducted as required. To date, all other tests have come back negative. Investigation into the infection and contact tracing are continuing.
The staff at Copper Ridge Place responded appropriately to ensure the health and safety of other residents and staff was protected. They are no strangers to communicable diseases in congregate living spaces and they were able to quickly put in place infection control measures. The unit is unfortunately not allowing visitors right now but otherwise activity at Copper Ridge Place carries on.
Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy Anne McPhee
During the long months of this pandemic we have been prepared for this and now we have experienced the first case of COVID-19 in a Yukon long-term care facility. The early recognition and appropriate response have minimized risk of transmission in continuing care. I am confident that the measures in place will minimize risk in continuing care. I wish this individual a rapid and complete recovery from their infection.
Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott
Our hospitals continue to operate in a heightened risk environment and COVID-19 is a threat our staff and physicians face every day. In the first year of the pandemic, we cared for fewer than 10 patients with COVID-19. Since June, we’ve cared for more than 60. The safety of our patients and our people remains our top priority, and we’ll continue to have strict safety measures in place – mandatory masking, hand hygiene, physical distancing, and screening for risk factors. Yukoners can be confident our hospitals continue to be safe places to seek care.
Yukon Hospital Corporation CEO Jason Bilsky
The Yukon has four long-term care homes, with 220 residents. Long-term care homes were the first to introduce health and safety protocols following the declaration of the pandemic in March 2020.
Vaccination rates among residents of long-term care homes is more than 95 per cent.
Renee Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Pat Living
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-335-1531
patricia.living@yukon.ca
Matthew Davidson
Communications Manager, Whitehorse General Hospital
867-393-8698
matthew.davidson@wgh.yk.ca