Let’s try this again.

For the second time in less than a year, the Yukon government is dropping virtually all mandatory health restrictions and ending the COVID- related state of emergency.

Last August, the government did the same thing at the tail end of the Delta outbreak – only to have to reinstitute the measures in October and November as the Omicron crisis unfolded.

As of the coming Friday, mandatory masking in most public indoor areas will end, along with mandatory vaccine passports to enter certain businesses and facilities.

The state of emergency will end at the same time.

Certain sectors, including long-term care centres, schools, health facilities, shelters, group homes, the correctional centre and hospitals, will still require mandatory masks.

That’s the government focusing on how to protect the most vulnerable, officials say.

On Apr. 4, the vaccine mandates for Yukon government employees will end as well, except in those kinds of settings, excluding schools

Premier Sandy Silver and the acting chief medical officer of health, Dr. Catherine Elliott, said during this morning’s COVID-19 briefing they know these changes won’t make everyone happy, but the decisions are “supported by science.

“I don’t like mandatory measures,” Elliott said as she fielded questions by reporters.

She said she’s quite confident in the decisions, saying COVID-19 in the territory is at a “manageable and stable” status.

She said the government and Yukon public health officials are trading mandatory measures for discretionary ones.

That gives individuals more responsibility over their own health decisions and status, which is a more desirable state.

“I hope this lasts for a while,” Elliott said in response to a question from a reporter.

She said she’s hoping for a quiet summer as far as the pandemic goes.

“We follow the science,” added Silver, as is his habit. “This is the end of sweeping government measures.”

He said he doesn’t believe the decision to end the restrictions will lead to more divisiveness amongst Yukoners, where some segments won’t be happy with the loss of the health mandates.

In particular, Silver scoffed at the notion that some people might continue to wear masks as a political statement, as is being discussed extensively in national news, as well as social media.

Elliott continues to strongly recommend masks in indoor settings or anywhere you can’t properly distance yourself from people. Silver said he will continue to wear one as well in those situations.

He also said it doesn’t mean the government is “turning a blind eye” to vulnerable people, such as the immuno-compromised.

Public health officials will continue to keep a close eye on how the virus is trending, Elliott and Silver said.

Business and organizations can set their own policies as to whether they wish to continue masking and asking for vaccine passports, but won’t have the enforcement weight of the government behind them.

Inter-school activities such as sports and recreation can resume Friday.

Out-of-territory field trips can go ahead as well starting Apr. 19.

There are 47 active cases as of today, and eight new cases overnight.

Meanwhile, one unit within the Copper Ridge Place long-term care facility is closed to visitors due to a COVID-19 case.

“One house within Copper Ridge Place is temporarily closed to visitors while we work with Yukon Communicable Disease Control (YCDC) and (Elliott) to investigate the situation after confirmation of a positive case of COVID-19,” a government spokesperson said Tuesday afternoon.

“While we await further direction from YCDC and (Elliott), Copper Ridge Place continues to follow standard infection control protocols.

“This includes the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), restricting visitors to the area and the movement of staff/residents between different areas within the long-term care home.”

A number of precautionary measures were also implemented immediately upon confirmation of a positive case, including:

•communication of the temporary closure to residents and families;

•temporary isolation of residents of the affected house to limit transmission;

•dedicated recreation therapy resources to the affected house to support individualized programming;

•enhanced cleaning protocols;

•twice daily screening for staff working on the affected house; and

•signage throughout the facility to keep residents and staff informed.