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# Chief Medical Officer of Health declares public health emergency

This news release has been updated, a fourth bullet has been added to reflect library closures.

Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, today declared a public health emergency under section 4.3 of the Public Health and Safety Act.

This declaration enables the Chief Medical Officer of Health to respond more quickly to the rapidly changing situation and to ensure the health and safety of Yukoners. The public health emergency will be in effect until further notice.

This declaration comes with new public health measures aimed at protecting Yukoners and limiting the spread of COVID-19:

- Classes are suspended at all Yukon public schools until April 15, or until further notice.
- All public indoor recreational facilities are required to close until further notice. This includes the Canada Games Centre, ice rinks and recreation centres.
- All three Yukon hospitals are closed to visitors, with limited exceptions.
- Libraries are closed until further notice.

> We are continuing to ramp up our response as all of Canada braces for COVID-19. Yukon has no confirmed cases at this time, but the threat is real and COVID-19 in the North is inevitable. By taking these precautions now, we have the ability to limit its spread. We are taking the necessary incremental steps to save lives and ensure the sustainability of our health-care systems.

Quick facts

- The declaration of a public state of emergency ensures the Chief Medical Officer of Health has the ability to enforce his directives.

- At all three hospitals, a strict limit of two people will be permitted to visit maternity/newborn patients, sick children, patients at end of life or in emergency situations. Caregiver of a person with a disability and substitute decision makers are also permitted to visit.

- There are 30 schools and 5,580 students in Yukon (as of February 29, 2020).

Media contact

Brendan Hanley
Chief Medical Officer of Health
867-456-6136
brendan.hanley@gov.yk.ca

News release #:
20-059