COVID-19 Update May 5, 2020

Tuesday, 5 May 2020 18:55

Yukon's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley announced that as of May 5, at 2 p.m. the case count remains at 11 cases of COVID-19 in the territory.

All of the 11 people who have contracted COVID-19 in Yukon have recovered.

There are no active cases in the territory and more than 1,000 individuals have been tested. Each case in Yukon has been traced its origin which means there continues to be no known community spread in the territory.

Modelling shows that because Yukoners have followed the six steps to staying safe, we have successfully reduced the spread of COVID-19 in the territory. If we had not put restrictions in place when we did, our modelling shows we would have expected to have seen around 2,500 cases of COVID-19 by May 1. Instead we saw 11.

It's vital that Yukoners continue to practise the six steps to staying safe. As a territory, we must take a long-term view of the pandemic and move gradually and in an evidence-based way that's specific to Yukon circumstances towards easing restrictions so we can ensure we're always prepared for any changes in our situation.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everybody in different ways, depending on our circumstances and vulnerabilities. We cannot always anticipate how each of us will be affected. Yukoners can play a role in supporting others through this difficult experience as well as making sure we seek help for ourselves when we need it. We must also balance our personal responses to the pandemic with the risks to other Yukoners' health. Each safe action we take helps others who are vulnerable.

On April 17, 2020, we said we expected to receive the Spartan Cube machines we had ordered from the federal government around the end of May for portable, rapid testing around the territory. However, because of problems with the Spartan Cube's performance, Health Canada will no longer be supplying the machines.

To keep up to date with the latest information, Yukoners should visit Yukon.ca/COVID-19.

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