There is a COVID-19 outbreak at Copper Ridge Place, the Department of Health and Social Services confirmed to the Star this morning.

Keshah Austin, an online communications and products analyst with the department, told the Star that Dr. Sudit Ranade, the chief medical officer of health (CMOH), declared the outbreak on Monday.

Austin said the outbreak was contained to one of four houses within the long-term care home.

On Thursday, an outbreak was declared in the rest of the home.

Public outbreak or exposure notices are not being issued.

Case numbers are not publicly known; the department said it will not be releasing information on that.

“Following the evidence-informed guidance of the CMOH and Yukon Communicable Disease Control (YCDC), only residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of respiratory infection are required to remain in their rooms,” Austin said via email.

The movement of residents, visitors and staff is being minimized until Ranade declares the outbreak is over.

“Residents are being actively monitored for symptoms daily and only being tested if symptoms develop,” Austin said.

“We follow infection prevention and control measures established to manage outbreaks of respiratory infections.

“We will continue to follow the guidance of the CMOH and YCDC. For this reason, health and safety measures at Copper Ridge Place and in long-term care homes may change at any time,” she added.

Austin said the department will continue to ask visitors with respiratory symptoms to stay home – even if symptoms are mild.

“Visits will be restricted to one designated visitor per resident for the duration of the outbreak. Exemptions will be made for end-of-life visits,” said Austin.

She said signage about outbreaks is posted in a variety of places, including the front door of the long-term care facility, which highlights additional procedures and directs visitors to check in with the front desk.

Signage also encourages visitors who are sick or unwell to visit once they feel better.

“The Yukon’s CMOH continues to closely monitor the situation and will make recommendations to the Government of Yukon as needed,” Austin said.

“As we have shifted to living with and managing COVID-19, Yukoners are strongly encouraged to stay home if they are feeling sick and manage COVID-19 in a way that best suits the individual.”

The department confirmed that COVID-19 outbreak or exposure notices are not being issued to the public.

“The Government of Yukon communicates directly with impacted Yukoners in long-term care settings and their family, friends and loved ones to ensure they are aware of the routine outbreak management procedures that have been put in place to keep staff and residents safe,” Austin said.

As a part of the government document, “Charting the Course: Living with and Managing COVID-19”, Austin said, the government has moved to “a more sustainable approach to communication that aligns with other respiratory illnesses.”

Bi-weekly, a public-facing surveillance report is released that addresses COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Lastly, she said, “We work closely with CMOH and YCDC and execute evidence-informed recommendations to prevent further spread while minimizing the impact on people who live in settings with active outbreaks.

“We continue to follow the guidance of the CMOH and YCDC. For this reason, health and safety measures in the long-term care homes may change at any time.”

According to the latest Bi-weekly Respiratory Surveillance Report ending the week of Aug. 26, COVID-19 test positivity has increased compared to the previous two weeks – and was highest in the Whitehorse area.

The report indicates that COVID-19 case rates are stable, but per cent positivity is increasing.

The other laboratory indicator points in this latest report are as follows:

• Influenza A test positivity decreased compared to the previous two weeks, and was the same in rural Yukon and the Whitehorse area.

• Influenza B test positivity stayed the same compared to the previous two weeks, and was the same in rural Yukon and the Whitehorse area.

• RSV test positivity remained the same compared to the previous two weeks, and was the same in rural Yukon and the Whitehorse area.

• COVID-19 was the organism with the highest rolling average test positivity over the last two weeks

• Testing volume was highest among Whitehorse residents over the last two weeks

The predominant COVID-19 variant of concern in Yukon is Omicron and the predominant lineage is EG.5.1.

• COVID-19 wastewater viral load in Haines Junction is increasing.

Active Surveillance Indicators in the report also say the rate of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Yukon is stable, and similar to previous years.

Hospitalization rates are stable, and lower than previous years.