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# Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health provides update on COVID-19

Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley has the following updates on measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 cases

As of today, March 22, at 7 p.m. there are two cases of COVID-19 in Yukon.

COVID-19 test results

Yukon is now seeing a faster turnaround time on COVID-19 test results. By early this coming week, the number of completed tests on Yukon.ca will be updated three times a week.

Non-essential travel outside of territory and into rural Yukon

In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to protect Yukon’s most vulnerable citizens, Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health strongly advises the suspension of all non-essential travel into and out of Yukon. All Yukoners planning to return home in the next 30 days are advised to return now.

In view of the need to protect remote areas with limited medical resources, Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health strongly advises the suspension of any non-essential travel to Yukon’s rural communities.

Self-isolation required for all travellers

All Yukoners returning home and all visitors to the territory are required to self-isolate for 14 days. This includes anyone returning home from other provinces and territories by road or air, as well as Yukoners returning home by road from Alaska. We are putting mechanisms in place to monitor and ensure travellers are self-isolating.

If you cannot safely self-isolate at home, email covid19info@gov.yk.ca for information and advice. All Yukoners who return home and have respiratory symptoms (cough, fever, or difficulty breathing) are asked to call 811 to get advice on COVID-19 testing.

Restaurants and bars

Restaurants must immediately reduce their seating capacity to 50 per cent, space people two metres apart, and prepare to offer take-out and delivery service only as of opening on March 26. As of closing time tonight, March 22, all bars must close until further notice.

All personal service establishments must close by end of day, Wednesday, March 25. This includes hair salons, barber shops, tattoo parlours, nail salons, and massage therapists.

Gatherings

Gatherings of more than 10 people are banned. Smaller gatherings should ensure spacing of two metres between people. Yukoners should not attend any social gatherings, even those with less than 10 people if:

- You have any flu-like symptoms at all;
- You are over 65 years of age or have an underlying health condition; or
- You work in healthcare, a healthcare facility or other essential services.

Media contact

Pat Living
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-667-3673/335-1531
patricia.living@gov.yk.ca

News release #:
20-067
Related information:
Information on self-isolation
Find information about coronavirus (COVID-19)