Dr. Brendan Hanley, the chief medical officer of health, announced two more COVID-19 cases Wednesday in Whitehorse.

The new cases are part of what he called a “family cluster”. The bad news is that they are infected with the so-called “P” or Brazilian variant that is causing concern around the world.

“Obviously, we’re concerned,” Hanley said during his weekly briefing. “It’s the first cases of this variant.”

The family in question is self-isolating and being monitored, Hanley said.

The Brazilian variant is of particular concern since it’s not clear whether the existing vaccines, such as the Moderna vaccine being used in the Yukon, is effective against it.

Hanley said the issue is under research but nothing can confidently be said about the vaccine and the variant.

It’s already somewhat unclear how long the current vaccines may offer protection for, or if they prevent someone who is fully vaccinated from transmitting the virus.

Statistically, Hanley said, even these new vaccines, which have performed impressively in studies, give a window of five to 10 per cent for a person to catch the virus. The severity of the infection should be limited, he added, but there’s a lot of uncertainty about things.

The cluster of infections, he said, came from a family who travelled into the Yukon from Outside.

He wouldn’t identify the location, but indicated it was from one of the provinces where the Brazilian variant had been previously noted.

That’s been the pattern for most of 2021 in the territory, Hanley said. Small incidences of COVID-19 keep appearing, and all are related to travel.

There is no sign of community transmission, and that’s how he’d like to keep it.

“We’ve had success due to a variety of strategies,” Hanley said.

He continued to say he’s concerned about the relative lack of vaccine uptake amongst younger adults.

They are making up the bulk of infections across Canada currently, Hanley said. Here in the Yukon, vaccine uptake in this group is rising by one per cent a week.

One new item of information is bound to interest the public. Quoting from some of the latest studies, Hanley said he would no longer recommend people bother to go out of their way to overindulge in cleaning surfaces, or worry about becoming infected from handling groceries or mail.

The latest information indicates surface infections are rare and unlikely from most commonly handled items, he said.

“No single measure will stop COVID,” Hanley said. “”Even the vaccine may not work on its own. That’s why it’s hard to say when restrictions might be lifted.”

With classes ending for many college and university students, Hanley said, there might be changes coming to self-isolation requirements.

He strongly encouraged all members of a household to consider self-isolation for 14 days when family members return from outside the territory. He also suggested wearing masks inside during the period and not sharing meals together.

Those measures could be made mandatory as Yukon medical officials say they need it.