Yukon's COVID-19 state of emergency will end tonight

Wednesday, 25 August 2021 14:24

By Dylan MacNeil

Premier Sandy Silver speaking at the last weekly COVID-19 update. The next one will be in two weeks. (Facebook.com/governmentofyukon)

When the clock strikes midnight, there will be no more gathering size limits.

“Today is an exciting day. For some, perhaps it’s a long awaited on as well. It’s also an anxious day for very many folks,” said Premier Sandy Silver at this morning’s COVID-19 update.

The Yukon’s state of emergency declared 17 months ago in response to the pandemic will expire at 11:59 pm tonight.

That means remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted and there will no longer be legal limits on gathering sizes.

Self-isolation will still be enforceable on a case-by-case basis under the public safety act, and anyone asked to isolate can be charged if they don’t.

“A state of emergency under CEMA, is no longer required to manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The risks have changed and a more targeted approach is now called for.

Silver says that while many jurisdictions in Canada are reinstating public health measures as cases surge, there are no plans to do the same here in the Yukon, but in his words, “if we have to go back, we have to go back.”

Silver also says weekly updates are no longer needed. The next one will be in two weeks.

Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliot says we may see more cases of the Delta variant going forward, but the overall situation is stable.

There are currently 36 active cases in the territory, that’s down from the 41 previously reported.

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