Photo by Whitehorse Star
Dr. Brendan Hanley
Case count rises; enforcement details released
Nine more cases of COVID-19 have been announced by Dr. Brendan Hanley, the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health.
Nine more cases of COVID-19 have been announced by Dr. Brendan Hanley, the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health.
The new numbers were made public late Thursday afternoon.
There are now 54 active cases in the territory, including one probable case and two out-of-territory cases.
While only 11 are confirmed as Gamma variant, it is presumed that all recent cases are this variant of concern.
The territory now has 145 confirmed and one probable case.
Eight of the new cases are in Whitehorse with one in a rural community.
Hanley also announced in the release specific new measures showing how enforcement of the pandemic-related health measures are to be ramped up.
That was first announced on Wednesday – but Premier Sandy Silver was unable to provide any details.
“Here is what Yukoners can expect heading into the long weekend and coming weeks,” said the advisory issued late Thursday afternoon.
“The CEMA (Civil Emergency Measures Act) Investigations Unit has brought on additional staff and shifting has doubled to manage the expected increase in complaints.
“There will be an increased presence of officers and inspectors who are able to lay charges under the CEMA; focusing their efforts on ensuring restaurants and bars are following their operational plans and guidelines, and that patrons of these establishments are following the rules.
“Officers will have a presence in all Yukon communities to assist and provide follow-up to CEMA complaints that we receive from the public.”
Officers will be visiting local businesses, workplaces and mine sites to ensure compliance with COVID-19 orders, the advisory said.
“These officers and inspectors come from various Government of Yukon departments to ensure that we have people on the ground educating the public, assisting with compliance, and, when necessary, bringing charges under CEMA.
“We continue to work with our partners at the RCMP in Whitehorse and communities to support CEMA enforcement officers when required.”
Meanwhile, the Yukon Party criticized Silver for not releasing details of the strengthened enforcement measures during Wednesday’s weekly COVID briefing.
“(Wednesday), the premier was unable to answer simple and straightforward questions at the COVID press conference,” the official Opposition said.
“With the territory experiencing an outbreak, the premier announced that COVID enforcement would be increased.
“Reporters asked Premier Sandy Silver four times how enforcement would be increased and what he meant by his statement of redoubling efforts. The premier was unable to answer the questions.
“As was the case during the spring sitting, the Liberals are unable to explain or provide details about announcements they are making,” the Yukon Party said.
See editorial and letter.
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Comments (32)
Up 13 Down 24
Observer on Jun 23, 2021 at 10:32 am
Ha ha the neo cons on this site just make me laugh. First they predict a YP government, then they predict the Liberals will lose the last election, now they are predicting the coalition will fall. Just keep predicting, sooner or later you might get something right.
Up 24 Down 5
Equivocation on Jun 23, 2021 at 9:18 am
Dear Joe - Why the equivocation? It is clear that Silver is not a leader.
Up 39 Down 6
joe on Jun 22, 2021 at 3:07 pm
Mr Silver, I am seriously doubting your ability to lead and I wish your dysfunctional coalition (the one without clear mandate) would fail sooner than later and we could have another election.
Up 8 Down 10
Wilf Carter on Jun 22, 2021 at 2:04 pm
What going wrong? We have kids in school, day care, gathering, tourist on and on with CV19. How do we stop it or can we stop it?
Up 36 Down 22
JSM on Jun 22, 2021 at 9:20 am
Surrender your civil liberties, turn in your family, hide away in the darkness.
It's the black plague all over again, could not imagine what would happen if something serious swept through the populace.
Up 37 Down 21
What? on Jun 21, 2021 at 10:33 pm
Cases?!? Determined with a PCR test that was already thrown out of court (Vienna) for not being able to detect infection, as stated by its inventor Kary Mullis?
For the uninitiated: It's like taking binoculars and zooming in on virus fragments. Any fragments floating around. No detection of infection.
So, I think we should measure a pandemic by the dead piling up along the streets of Whitehorse, like Georgia's smallpox outbreak back in 18 something. Average age of Covid death: over 80. In 2020 supposedly 15,500 died of Covid (in Canada) out of 38 million, giving us a survival rate of 99.95%. SCARY!
Even if we had a real pandemic, how would more law enforcement stop a virus? A virus that makes it through the security of a level 4 bio lab, is hardly stopped by more officers running around - or filthy bits of germ ridden cloths in front of people's mouths, breathing in said pathogens, while lacking up to 25% of life giving oxygen.
And lastly, interesting that we didn't have such a 'large Covid outbreak' till after injecting about 75% of Yukoners with questionable spike protein bombs ... Same happened in Israel (largest death spike in a decade), same happened in the UK where Boris was 'running a race against Covid'. The more people they injected, the higher the death rate soared. Same in India (till they rolled out Ivermectin instead).
Up 2 Down 6
Vlad on Jun 21, 2021 at 3:51 pm
@John - hey johnny, the first paragraph of your comment is great. Even @ Matthew would not be able to say it better. The rest is the only sort of all right.
Up 52 Down 15
Groucho d'North on Jun 21, 2021 at 10:52 am
Just when you think the governments have reached the limit of their poor enforcement judgments.... they suprise us once again.
They are becoming more Orwellian each week.
Up 37 Down 6
uh - clarity on Jun 20, 2021 at 6:17 pm
So, what training have they gone through? Are they auxiliary constables of bylaw? Are they strictly for "enforcement" ... ?
Typical gov speak. Don't answer the question and think that you have.
Up 45 Down 10
Douglas Martens on Jun 20, 2021 at 6:16 pm
When I see an official announcement that all YTG and Larry are taking a 50 percent haircut in their salaries, as so many of us undesirables already have, then will I believe we are all in this together.
Until that happy day, what I will believe is this has nothing to do with any virus and everything to do with an obscene wealth transfer from the untermenschen to the ubermenschen.
Up 37 Down 13
Adam on Jun 20, 2021 at 5:01 pm
People that got covid vaccine may still contract and pass the virus…. I don't understand why the freakout?? If this “breakout” is expected of the vaccines and the virus, why are the government still enforcing fear? Is it not one of the effect of the vaccine?
Maybe the new vaccines that created this outbreak.. and thus also predicted.
Why freaking out? We can never be 100% without the covid, time to learn to live with it!
Up 34 Down 14
DMZ on Jun 20, 2021 at 2:48 pm
@shakemyhead, matthew might have been a little over the top, but you are displaying much less understanding of the risk we are in with respect to our rights under the charter. If we just accept these restrictions whenever a government invokes "public health emergency", it can easily turn into the equivalent of a perpetual implementation of the notwithstanding clause. I am very scared that at the end of this, we will virtually have a non-functioning charter of rights, with the wholehearted support of people like yourself.
You may want to make light of that anxiety. It's very troubling that governments are not reassuring us that they have an understanding of their limits under this endless "emergency", while protecting the charter, which is their job. God knows we can never expect it from doctors, who are increasingly coming across as experiencing this as being the best thing that ever happened to them. They are the walking examples of "never let a crisis go to waste" as they visibly show the wheels turning about all the public health measures they've always wanted to make mandatory if it wasn't for those pesky charter rights and consent requirements.
Up 33 Down 14
John on Jun 20, 2021 at 12:19 pm
@ Sue Sez
Sorry Sue that you put so much faith in the Government. It is indicative of many folks that feel as you do that gets us into the messes we are currently in. These measures being "imposed" are draconian by their very nature. Furthermore there is no oversight by what the government has, and is doing under this legislation. While you may think that is fine I for one do not. Compliance as you have noted is nothing more than a form of Marshall Law. It is "do as I say or else".
If you wish to succumb to the will of the government - go for it. I for one will never fold like a cheap suit. I will continue to challenge decisions that are not in the best interest of our freedoms and democracy.
Oh by way - one should never jump to conclusions about why a traveller stopped while passing through. Obviously you have very little to do then to do the government's bidding and tattle on others.
Up 35 Down 21
WTF is wrong with you? on Jun 20, 2021 at 10:20 am
@ Shake my head - Are f@$#ing serious? Matthew’s comment may lack a certain tactfulness in failing to clarify that he was speaking to a parallel in the rights abuses and not the horror of the Holocaust that rightly shocked the conscience of the world.
He was talking about processes. Not about genocide. That was “you” who made that connection.
If you really want to understand someone’s perspective you need to engage in conversation and not the hyperbole of ignorant emotionalism - We have descended to a state of relational dysfunction in which our means of relating to one another is to tear them down by whatever means Possible.
You all sound like a bunch of Yukon lawyers with their little feelings and indignities scrapping it out behind the scenes - Child’s play… Absolute child’s play!
Up 48 Down 14
Martin on Jun 20, 2021 at 9:24 am
When I hear and see chief medical doctor’s like BC Bonnie Henry address the public on the Covid situation, she is very clear and precise. With the opposite of Dr Hanley, I have never heard such mumbo jumbo in trying to explain the situation in the Territory. He is the worst in explaining out of all the chief medical doctors in Canada. I suggest that the deputy medical officer should be used instead.
Up 48 Down 13
Aldous on Jun 19, 2021 at 9:03 pm
Dear - Would you be so kind… Training, we need no stinking training… It serves our interests to serve our benevolent benefactors that we may be liked and continue to be liked… Toeing the party line for dear leader in the brave new world! Herr kommandant!
You do not need an education or any real training to work for the government… All you need is friendship whether that be directly or you know, indirectly, friends of friends!
Up 15 Down 31
Sue Sez on Jun 19, 2021 at 3:17 pm
John...a wise cross section of the populace is called An Election. Yukoners are whiners. Enforce the U.S. traveller's shopping instead of travelling- Yes. Compliance just means "The same Rules for everyone", like a sports game. Help being safe, still have a shot of a good summer. Talk Up Covid Health measures- Not Down.
Up 62 Down 25
John on Jun 19, 2021 at 11:11 am
...and how will we, the public, be able to identify these foot soldiers dashing about ? Will they be wearing trench coats ? Have brimmed hats ? Will they be like Knights Templar's ? What will their uniforms look like - brown shirts, grey or liberal red, wearing ball caps ? Will they be in pairs + or solo ? Male and/or female ? Will they be carrying night sticks ? Will they have hand cuffs ? If they nab some poor unsuspecting soul will they then tag them with the same patch that Dr Fear and Hi Ho Silver wear ? Will you be sending these sods off to relearning camps ?
Seems a tad draconian to me. First you instill fear into everyone, then ever so slowly (through the power of a piece of legislation, that gives carte blanche), you put into force measures to diminish our freedoms. Then you hire your own honchos to keep the masses in line and finally what we see happening is people behaving as this is the new norm - not realizing what they have given up, or worse - might see yet to come.
This is how tyranny starts. I am not saying we are headed to that ultimate point; but, let's be careful with how much "real" authority is given to the Government that can enable them to suppress freedoms.
I have travelled this wonderful planet and seen how easily populations submit. At first innocently and then before they know what has happened they are confronted with something worse and find it difficult to shed the new cloak.
All of these measures that have been put into place should never have been left solely to the government of the day and the PHO's office. A very wise, cross sectional group of citizens should have made up a council to guide us through this turmoil with no end game plan other than to get everyone through with as little as damage as possible and safely over the goal line.
Up 39 Down 29
Wilf Carter on Jun 19, 2021 at 11:06 am
It's not the business that's the problem. It is people who don't give Sh*t that is the problem. Our medical people are doing their best. If Sandy, Ranj and Tracy would stay out of it and close their traps as we say in NS things would go better. And yes they are all from NS and should know better. Two grew up close to where I was from and all our families were shown the right and wrong way to do things. More needs to be spent helping seniors but Larry Bagnell does give a damn about them just his $200,000 salary.
Up 73 Down 19
Joe on Jun 18, 2021 at 10:37 pm
Hey Sandy! I'm questioning your ability to lead and your actions. I don't trust you and strongly believe there needs to be a change of government. You have a questionable minority government and you're not respecting Yukoners. I'm done.
Up 49 Down 6
My Opinion on Jun 18, 2021 at 9:53 pm
They are throwing them out here as well. They are Health directives not laws.
Up 69 Down 21
Andy Odel on Jun 18, 2021 at 9:37 pm
How embarASSing it must be for Silver to sit there at a "news" conference and try to dazzle us with brilliance and not even be able to baffle us with Bull S---. We have had some terrible leaders in the territory before but this one takes the blue ribbon hands down.
Up 21 Down 11
Clarity on Jun 18, 2021 at 7:21 pm
Environmental Health Officers otherwise known as Public Health Inspectors- enforcing the Public Health and Safety Act along with CEMA Health Protection Order.
The approach: Progressive enforcement- education provided first- along with inspection/verification and guidance- to remediate non compliance. Non compliance repetitively, results in Orders or tickets issued.
Auxiliary organizations that routinely provide enforcement in other departments are enlisted to assist with educational materials and ticketing.
Up 41 Down 20
iBrian on Jun 18, 2021 at 6:32 pm
@Peter
You need help. If you got the vaccine. Which doesn’t stop you from contracting or transmitting the flu. What are you worried about?
I got the Covid last year. I have developed natural antibodies. So, why on earth would I take a shot?
Also, please tell me I believe in the wrong god.
80% of the general population has a 71% I.Q, and buddy, 71 ain’t that bright.
Up 33 Down 29
iBrian on Jun 18, 2021 at 5:38 pm
@Matthew
Well, for 1, no one is being loaded on a train and sent to a Gas chamber
2- no one is being forced into slave labour,
3- no one is having their financial resources taken and put towards a cause.
4- no one with Gold teeth is having them ripped out by the police with pliers
I could go on, but, well, gonna flip my pork chops on the bbq and wonder if your a product of Public Education.
Up 39 Down 28
Shake my head on Jun 18, 2021 at 5:03 pm
@matthew seriously dude? Did you just compare cema to the holocaust? Well for one there’s 6 million difference in state sponsored killing, and two you need to actually look at the charter of rights and freedoms and not just suck up all the bs your American brothers are telling you on Facebook. The charter can be put on hold whenever there is a a civil emergency established. This is a right Garnered to every province and territory and the federal government BY THE CHARTER!
Funny…just like how none of you guys knew anything about pandemics before, it appears you knew nothing about Canadian constitutional law either. Now go back to your Facebook echo chamber filled with stooges who all agree with whatever other imaginations you come up with.
Up 47 Down 27
bonanzajoe on Jun 18, 2021 at 4:52 pm
The plain clothes Gestapo are on the loose.
Up 39 Down 23
Gary on Jun 18, 2021 at 4:51 pm
So why don't these wannabe cops enforce all the American tourists going to Walmart, Timmy's, superstore, etc? Or do they only have authority to harass Yukoners?
Up 53 Down 24
HJ on Jun 18, 2021 at 4:42 pm
Once again: How many people are hospitalized? I'm seeing zero. I remember seeing maybe 1 person got sent down south, so if that counts, then it's 1. *ONE* person in the hospital. How did it get forgotten that this entire thing was to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed? Full-on scope creep. Casedemic.
Up 84 Down 39
Patti Eyre on Jun 18, 2021 at 3:58 pm
Covid police? What's next, gingervitis unit?
Up 52 Down 70
Peter on Jun 18, 2021 at 3:51 pm
Well, I still catch americans downtown shopping and getting coffee, going to Alaska and not exempt! I called the covid line and got no results! What a waste of time and money. This government must step up and protect Yukoners! Jail these persons, heavily fine them and then black list them from ever travelling through the Yukon. Better yet no entry into Canada! They seem not to respect our country and their actions threatens out lives and health!
Up 82 Down 17
Would you be so kind on Jun 18, 2021 at 3:18 pm
as to explain what training your officers have gone through? Are you creating auxiliary constables of individuals with no training in enforcement? You might be creating a bit of a problem if it ever leads to accusations of them instigating/aggravating situations.