The Yukon’s COVID-19 outbreak continued to worsen over the long weekend.

Government officials report that 117 active cases of the virus are now known.

Dr. Brendan Hanley, the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health, issued multiple updates over the weekend.

The most recent, issued Monday afternoon, stated 30 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been identified since Saturday afternoon.

“There are now 100 active cases in the territory,” the release stated.

Seventeen more cases were added this morning in an update from Pat Living, a spokesperson for Hanley.

“Since June 4, 2021, screening results received so far indicate all cases are positive for the Gamma (P.1) variant,” a statement said.

“That leaves Yukon’s total case count as 212. Fourteen cases have recovered. Twenty-three cases are in Whitehorse and seven in rural communities.

“One new hospitalization, while two previous cases remain in the hospital,” the update indicated. 

“If you have symptoms that feel like a cold right now, you should consider that it is COVID-19. You should isolate immediately and arrange for a test,” Hanley said in a release.

“We expect to see many more cases as the virus moves through our unvaccinated population. To get through this, people must get tested when symptoms appear and stay home if at all unwell.

“Isolating people with symptoms, identifying contacts, and testing will bring us through this outbreak. Vaccination will prevent the next one.” 

“COVID-19 is now widespread throughout Yukon, primarily affecting unvaccinated people and is now present in most Yukon communities,” the release stated.

“Exposure notices have been sent to additional schools. Staff and students have been advised to either self-isolate or self-monitor depending on exposure. Cases linked to the identified schools were infectious during the last days of school.”

The schools involved are:

• Kluane School in Destruction Bay;

• École Whitehorse Elementary School;

• J.V. Clark School in Mayo

• Holy Family Elementary School in Whitehorse;

• Takhini Elementary School in Whitehorse; and

• Grades 9 and 10 classes at Porter Creek Senior Secondary School.

The Star has obtained two letters from public health officials and the Department of Education over the weekend that were sent to parents.

“As an update to our letter from June 16, 2021, we are notifying you that an additional student with COVID-19 has been connected to Porter Creek Secondary School,” the letter said.

“Although school is now out for summer, we are issuing this notice because the students would have been in their infectious period during the last days of school.

“Under sections 11 and 17 of the Communicable Disease regulations of the Public Health and Safety Act, the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Yukon is directing:

“All students who attended the following classes at Porter Creek Secondary School on June 3rd, 4th, and 7th are to self-isolate and monitor for signs of COVID-19 until Monday, June 21, 2021.

• Grade 10 Food (Day 1, Block A & C, Mr. Susin)

• Grade 10 Careers (Day 1, Block B & D, Ms. Burgess)

• Grade 10 Social Studies (Day 2, Block A & C, Mr. Falkenberg)

• Grade 10 Science (Day 2, Block B & D, Mr. Comeau)

“All teachers and support staff: If you are fully vaccinated (2 doses received prior to May 21, 2021), please monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19

“If you are partially vaccinated (1 dose only) or unvaccinated please self-isolate and monitor for signs of COVID-19 until June 21, 2021.”

A second letter was addressed to parents of students at Elijah Smith Elementary School.

“As a precaution, we are notifying you that a positive COVID-19 test connected to a Grade 6 Elijah Smith Elementary School student was reported on Monday, June 14, 2021.

“Yukon Communicable Disease Control is directing: Grade 6 students: All students in the Grade 6 class are to self-isolate and monitor for signs of COVID-19 until Friday June 25, 2021.”

Hanley issued the following notice last Friday:

“Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Dr. Brendan Hanley is directing Grade 12 students who attended the F.H. Collins prom event on Friday, June 11, to self-isolate until end of day on Friday, June 25, at 11:59 p.m.

“This direction is issued under his authority under Sections 11 and 17 of the Communicable Disease regulation under the Public Health and Safety Act.

“One of nine new confirmed cases of COVID-19 for today is a student at the school who attended the event. Everyone who attended the F.H. Collins Cap and Gown event on Thursday, June 10, are being asked to self-monitor only. Letters are being sent to students involved.

“In addition, under this same authority, Dr. Hanley is directing students in four Grade 9 classes at Porter Creek Senior Secondary to self-isolate until end of day on Friday, June 25. Letters are being sent to students in those classes.

“If students or their parents do not receive a letter by end of day Friday, June 18th, the student is not required to self-isolate.

“We have identified both these two Whitehorse high schools because of the sheer number of people who are affected,” Hanley said.

“We are seeing other school cases but are so far able to focus our contact tracing and advice to students and parents. Fortunately, we are not yet seeing evidence of transmission within the schools but rather young people acquiring COVID-19 in the community and then going to school. The fact that school is now over is also helping us,” Hanley said.

Meanwhile, with cases spreading into the communities, many of them are asking travellers to stay away – only a short time after the government introduced travel subsidies for Yukoners travelling within the territory this summer.