Even though the Yukon currently has the highest rates of COVID-19 in Canada, the chief medical officer of health says he’s not too concerned as yet.

Dr. Sudit Ranade told the Star Friday afternoon he’s been following the federal figures, but believes they’ve been exaggerated by the two recent outbreaks in seniors’ care facilities in Whitehorse.

Those outbreaks – at the Thomson Centre and Copper Ridge Place – have been declared over “in the last few days,” according to Ranade.

The outbreaks created a surge in cases, although he didn’t have the exact numbers on hand.

“We think the spike in rates (in the territory) is from these outbreaks,” Ranade explained.

“With a population the size of the Yukon, a small jump in the number of cases can make for a huge jump in rates.”

As of last Tuesday, federal data had the Yukon as Canada’s only jurisdiction set at a “high” level of COVID activity, with the trajectory of the virus “increasing” here.

Nunavut was “low,” while data for the Northwest Territories were not available.

The next update will be issued tomorrow. Data for the provinces and territories can routinely go up and down.

Ranade’s office hasn’t made a point in informing the public of the Yukon’s status as the top hotspot in Canada because he doesn’t believe it’s a cause for concern yet, he said.

Likewise, the declaration of the end of the official outbreak at the seniors’ facilities hasn’t been the focus of attention.

The last time Ranade spoke to the Star more than a week ago, he said he believed the season for respiratory infections such as COVID, influenza and common colds has started somewhat early.

“We know it’s in the community,” he said. “The outbreaks in the homes are an indication of that. It’s a good reminder.”

Ranade added, “We expect the (high) numbers to continue.”

His primary advice is still to encourage people to consider combining the new COVID vaccine with the annual flu shots – despite any vaccine fatigue people may be feeling.

The new COVID shots should be available to the public by mid-October as the flu shot clinics are being rolled out, he said.

“We don’t have a precise date yet,” he told the Star.

Most people have now gone at least a year without any new COVID boosters, Ranade said, making new shots more valuable.

As for the new RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine that helps to minimize the virus, which manifests with symptoms much like the common cold but more severe, Ranade said Yukon residents shouldn’t expect it to be widely available this season.

That vaccine has just been licensed in Canada, he said, and he expects supplies of it will be “severely limited” until next year.

Ranade added that vaccine is mostly geared for seniors and people with chronic health conditions rather than the general public.

A new surveillance report on COVD rates will be available in the near future, he said, and his office will be ramping out its reporting to the public over the next few months.

Meanwhile, the waste water testing for COVID at Haines Junction has not been updated since Aug. 22.