Two new COVID-19 cases were announced late Thursday afternoon by Yukon medical officials.

According to a news release, Dr. Brendan Hanley, the chief medical officer of health, has confirmed the cases – including the Yukon’s first case of a variant of concern.

Case #73 is someone who resides in Whitehorse and who is linked to international travel.

It is not known when or how the person arrived back in Whitehorse.

“Existing federal processes were followed including COVID-19 testing at time of arrival in Canada,” the release states.

“There is a presumptive positive for a variant of concern. The specific type of variant is not yet known and the sample is undergoing further testing.

“The individual is doing well and has been in self-isolation since arriving in Yukon.”

The second incident is not considered a Yukon case, as it was found in a non-Yukon resident who arrived in the territory last Sunday.

Yukon Communicable Disease Control (YCDC) was contacted by another jurisdiction.

This case has tested positive for B.1.1.7, and is linked to an outbreak in another jurisdiction.

The individual is doing well and has been in self-isolation since arriving in the territory.

The other jurisdiction is not identified. The location in the Yukon where the person is staying is not named. 

This morning, Pat Living, a spokesperson for Hanley, attempted to clarify the situation, since the release is ambiguous on several points.

“No they did not travel together,” she told the Star by email.

“Case 73 (the Whitehorse resident) was not infectious while traveling.”

According to federal regulations, that status made continued travel acceptable.

The second person – who had not received test results – arrived in the Yukon via an Air North flight from Vancouver.

Living explained that “all jurisdictions have different criteria for individuals waiting for test results. We require self isolation until results are received. We would not know the second individual had been tested.”

That person evidently didn’t offer to Yukon officials the information that he or she was awaiting test results. The territory was informed by health officials in the original jurisdiction.

The variant in question is commonly known as the United Kingdom variant. It is considered to be far more contagious than the original form of COVID-19, and possibly more lethal.

However, the Moderna vaccine being used in the Yukon is rated as being effective against it.

“We anticipated that we would see variants of concern, like B.1.1.7 in Yukon at some point and we are prepared to handle it,” Hanley said in the release.

“We can be thankful that both of these individuals have taken the proper precautions with self-isolation, and with the quick work of Yukon Communicable Disease Control, we will be able to control these cases and prevent any spread.

“This is a reminder that Yukoners must remain vigilant. COVID-19 is always lurking around the corner.”

The incidents prompted the territory to issue an exposure notice.

People may have been exposed to COVID-19 infection if they were on the following flight last Sunday: Air North flight Vancouver to Whitehorse, flight number 4N574, 6:40 p.m. (PST) to 8:41 p.m. (PST).