Post COVID-19 condition, also known as long COVID, is rapidly evolving and continues to be researched in Canada and across the world. The Post COVID-19 Working Group has now released an online resource for Yukoners, an important and necessary step forward in understanding the condition and supporting Yukoners along the way.
The 2022 fall sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly concluded today.
The 2022–23 First Supplementary Estimates received assent. The supplementary budget includes additional spending of $26.2 million in operations and maintenance and no changes in capital funding. Spending increases are largely due to an unprecedented 2022 fire season as well as mitigation and clean-up work required in response to extensive flooding throughout the territory. Funding associated with these items make up approximately $20.2 million of total new spending.
Two long-term care beds are being integrated within the Watson Lake Community Hospital, with 4.5 full-time equivalent Licensed Practical Nurses to provide 24-hour support, seven days a week.
The beds will open following staff recruitment and community input to ensure the appropriate programming. Community feedback will inform the development of living spaces, including furnishings and decor, to ensure they are welcoming and culturally appropriate.
The Government of Yukon has awarded bursaries to 13 Yukon students to support their post-secondary education in health-related fields.
The nursing education bursary was awarded to five Yukoners, including Emerald Gilespie, who will receive $1,500, Alissa Russell and Eleanor Low, who will each receive $2,500 per year, and Sophie Senecal, who will receive $5,000 per year.
The medical education bursary was awarded to four Yukoners, including Logan Godin and Jamila McLeish who will each receive $5,000 per year and Zain Syed, who will receive $7,500 per year.
The Monkeypox (MPOX) vaccine, Imvamune®, is now available for eligible Yukoners at the Whitehorse, Dawson City and Watson Lake Health Centres.
When used before exposure, Imvamune® has the potential to reduce the severity of MPOX infection by helping the body build immunity without getting very sick.
The Government of Yukon and Yukon Communicable Disease Control continue to work closely with health system and community partners on a focused vaccine campaign for eligible Yukoners through a combination of outreach and appointments booked by phone.
To increase the territory’s immunity during the respiratory season, Yukoners who are 12 years of age and older are now eligible for another COVID-19 booster regardless of how many previous boosters they have had.
The Government of Yukon has released the first Putting People First annual report, providing an update on the work being done to implement the report’s 76 recommendations.
The winners of the 2022 Robert E. Leckie Awards were announced at the 50th Annual Geoscience Forum & Trade Show banquet last evening. This year’s recipients are Parker Schnabel and Guy and Lisa Favron.
The Award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship was presented to Parker Schnabel for the reclamation work at the Little Flake placer mine and legacy areas mined by previous generations. The operation stands as a prime example of how a placer mine can be progressively reclaimed or cleaned up as work is underway.
Today, Minister of Environment Nils Clarke tabled the Yukon State of the Environment interim report for 2022 in the Yukon Legislative Assembly. This report brings together scientific and technical data from across government organizations and helps identify trends about the health of the Yukon’s environment.
Minister responsible for the French Language Services Directorate John Streicker has issued the following statement:
“Our government is dedicated to increasing access to French-language services and information. Today we launched a public engagement to inform our next strategic framework for French-language services, which will help prioritize our actions for the next two years. It will build on the successes of the previous framework and guide our investments to best serve the growing Yukon Francophone community.