The Yukon’s chief medical officers are urging “solidarity in self-isolation,” and have made a number of recommendations to guard against COVID-19.

“Let’s be clear: this is coming to Yukon and could be here without us knowing,” Brendan Hanley, the chief medical officer, told a news conference late this morning.

“A unified response is necessary; now is the time to pull together.”

Hanley addressed the media this morning alongside Catherine Elliott, deputy chief medical officer, and Premier Sandy Silver.

Hanley said there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the territory. About 100 tests have come back negative, while another 100 tests are still waiting for results.

Ranj Pillai, the minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, is among those waiting for test results and has been self-isolating since the middle of last week.

All individuals who have travelled internationally in the last two weeks are asked to self-isolate for 14 days, and any planned travel outside the country should be cancelled (see story below).

Mass gatherings of more than 50 people are now banned, including at places of worship.

Yukoners are recommended to work from home if they are able to, and employers are asked to be supportive in efforts to work remotely.

Smaller gatherings should be avoided by seniors or other immunocompromised people, and Yukoners are urged to maintain a distance of two metres from others.

Parents or caregivers are asked to keep children home from spring break camps or daycares if they are able to do so. Hanley suggested that the fewer children attend camps or daycares, the safer they will be.

Hanley said that officials are currently discussing whether to close the schools after the spring break concludes at the end of next week. That decision will be announced later this week.

Yukoners who are feeling sick are asked not to visit hospitals or long-term care facilities in the territory.

The Yukon Hospital Corp. announced Sunday that new screening procedures are in place at all three hospitals in Whitehorse, Watson Lake and Dawson City.

Visitors will be asked about their health and travel history at hospital entrances. Yukoners who are feeling unwell are asked not to visit hospitals. Healthy visitors should limit themselves to two visitors per patient at a time. 

Yukoners are asked not to visit the hospital for non-urgent or routine imaging procedures while sick.

Long-term care facilities, including seniors’ residences, are not taking visitors unless the person being visited is gravely ill.

Active arrangements are currently being made on surge capacity and isolation at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter. 

The Canada Games Centre and public libraries will remain open while there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the territory (the virus has reached northern B.C. ).

Bars and restaurants will remain open at this time, but Hanley urged restaurateurs and patrons to be cognizant of enabling two metres of space between patrons.

The public gallery at the legislative assembly will be closed until further notice.

Government officials have, as of today, been stationed at the Whitehorse airport. They will be recommending that travellers returning from international trips self-isolate for 14 days.

Physicians have been encouraged to use telephone care as much as possible, and will be reimbursed for these virtual visits.

Elliott explained that aggressive measures are required to “flatten the curve” of transmission.

This means working to delay the introduction of COVID-19 to the Yukon, and limit the rapid spread between people. It is critical these measures be taken early, Elliott said.

She added that she is asking for patience from all Yukoners in this rapidly developing situation. 

Hanley asked that all Yukoners band together to support those who are more vulnerable.

“The love of the land and the love we show for each other, that’s what’s going to get us through this,” Hanley said.

“We will have some losses, some shared pain, perhaps some grief.”

He called the current period “a pivotal moment in history.”

It was noted that the Yukon has limited health care capacity, increasing the need to limit the number of COVID-19 cases. The territory is “well-equipped” to deal with cases, or clusters of cases, and the strategy is to contain and delay the spread of those cases.

Hanley was asked to explain the decision to allow an Arctic Winter Games rally to take place on Sunday afternoon in Whitehorse.

Hanley said it was “socially, a very important event” for Yukoners and event organizers were briefed on the importance of social distancing. He said the event took place at a safe point in the epidemic, particularly as it was outdoors.

Hanley said it was intended to be a “send-off” to social events in the Yukon and signal the beginning of recommended social distancing.

Silver announced a $4-million support package to support Yukon businesses at about noon today. The stimulus package will make compensation available for workers without sick leave.

It will also establish a grant program to address the cost of cancelled events, waive and reimburse government fee collections (such as airport landing fees) and defer Yukon Workers Compensation Health and Safety Board premium payments.

The support package will additionally establish a Business Advisory Council to gather information on COVID-19’s economic impacts.

Businesses are invited to apply for that funding as of today, Silver said.

The legislative assembly will continue to meet until further notice.

An all-party agreement was reached this morning to expedite voting on critical legislation, in the event that the legislature is forced to recess in the near future.

The Budget Measures Implementation Act, Interim Supply Appropriation Act and Third Appropriation Act will all be passed to ensure that budget funds keep flowing in the case of a legislature shutdown.

Silver said that his government is in close communication with the federal government, but did not say whether federal funding has yet been secured to help the territory fight COVID-19.