It’s time for the Yukon government to reinstate mandatory face masking at public health care facilities, the New Democrats said Tuesday.

Masks should become mandatory at all Yukon hospitals and long-term care homes, said party leader Kate White.

White’s call for action follows what the NDP calls “extraordinary measures by territorial health officials to absorb a surge in hospital visits in Whitehorse.”

“Without a mask mandate, the Yukon Liberals’ decision allowing acute care patients at Whitehorse General Hospital to be treated at long-term care homes – where residents are more vulnerable to infection – is especially concerning,” White said.

The cabinet made that decision last Thursday.

“The Liberals are saying it’s okay to use long-term care homes as makeshift hospitals,” the NDP leader said.

“But they won’t require masks in health care settings when it’s peak respiratory virus season?” White asked.

“Masking is a simple way to take pressure off health care. We need to use all the tools we have to alleviate the pressure and protect patients and health care workers.”

The NDP leader added, “I’m concerned for patients and health care workers who are bearing the brunt of our crumbling health care system. We should be doing everything we can to reduce that strain, and masking just makes sense.”

Cabinet communications staff told the Star this morning, “It’s a dangerous day when we have politicians thinking they know better than scientists and public health expaerts.

“The decision to bring back masking or other public health measures will be one that is made by the chief medical officer of health (Dr. Sudit Ranade), and we urge MLA White to respect the work of scientists and medical professionals.”

Discussing COVID, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus rates, Ranade told the Star Jan. 17 the territory has been experiencing a relatively routine respiratory illness season.