Confusion is abounding over the latest cases of COVID-19 in the Yukon.

The Yukon government announced Friday evening that one positive case had been identified in Whitehorse.

A second case, which is a presumed positive, is related to that case, bringing a total of 71 confirmed cases and one presumed positive case in the territory.

The unwelcome news comes after a four-week lull that indicated the virus was virtually eradicated in the Yukon.

Case 71 is linked to an outbreak in an unidentified industrial worksite outside of the Yukon.

The person is a Whitehorse resident who, judging by the news release, returned to Whitehorse on the Air North 544 flight from Vancouver to Whitehorse between 11 a.m. (PST) and 2:25 p.m. (MST) on Feb. 7.

The presumptive case, which is identified as Case 72, is a household contact of the person from the Air North flight, according to Pat Living, a spokesperson for Dr. Brendan Hanley, the Yukon chief medical health officer.

The confusion begins over the exposure notices accompanying the two cases.

Hanley’s staff initially issued exposure notices for the following locations: Save-On-Foods, between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Feb. 11, as well as on Air North flight 544.

Later in the weekend, those exposures were expanded to include three more locations and dates:

• The running track at the Canada Games Centre on Feb. 4 between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.; 

• Whiskey Jack’s Pub & Grill, dining room and off sales on Feb. 6 between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and

• Better Bodies on Feb. 8 between 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

The dates for the Canada Games Centre running track pre-date the arrival of the Air North flight, as does the Whiskey Jack’s date.

Since the confirmed case is the person arriving on the plane, the inclusion of the dates for the centre and Whiskey Jack’s is puzzling.

When government officials were asked about the confusing dates, Living would only say in an email that “Case 72 was a household contact of Case 71.

“In an abundance of caution, we have backed up the exposure notices. As we have in the past, we will release only the information that the public needs to know for public health reasons in order to protect the privacy of individuals.”

The Star attempted to clarify Living’s statement without success.

Both people are self-isolating at home.

Over the weekend, the government also announced the Yukon has been promised by federal officials that 16,100 doses of the Moderna vaccines will be shipped by the end of the month.

That is similar to announcements made by Yukon government officials before New Year’s that did not materialize.

Premier Sandy Silver and Health and Social Services Minister Frost said in a news release that “we have received confirmation the Yukon will receive 16,100 doses of the Moderna vaccine by the end of the month.

“The mass clinic for all eligible Yukoners will open in Whitehorse as soon as possible following the arrival of these doses. Opening the clinic to all Yukoners 18 and older reduces barriers for vaccine access, which aligns with recommendations that the greatest way to protect the community is to immunize as many individuals as quickly as possible.”

In the statement, Silver and Frost said “our planning teams are already at work to redesign clinic dates and delivery schedules so we can open up the Whitehorse clinic to all residents.

“Today’s commitment is very good news for Yukon. We are happy to know more doses are coming and the mass clinic will be open for all eligible Yukoners.

“We will share more information about when Yukoners can book appointments shortly.”

 As of last Wednesday, 6,414 people had been tested in the Yukon.

As of the end of that day, 11,434 doses of the Moderna vaccine had been administered in the Yukon. This number includes 10,604 first doses and 830 second doses.

From Feb. 3 to last Wednesday, there were 132 people tested at the COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centre.

In terms of enforcement statistics, the government had received 1,436 complaints as of last Wednesday:

• failure to self-isolate: 801;

• gatherings over 10 inside or 50 outside: 38;

• failure to transit through Yukon in 24 hours or stay on their designated route: 436;

• businesses failing to comply with orders: 14;

• failure to abide by declaration form: 26;

• failure to wear a mask: 85; and

• failure to physical distance: 36.

There have been a total of 48 charges and 39 people charged under the Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA).

The number of total incoming travellers as of last Wednesday was 69,948. They were comprised of:

• resident travellers: 18,917;

• B.C. residents: 15,668;

• N.W.T. residents: 508; and

• other approved jurisdictions: 388.

The number of decals distributed indicating out-of-territory vehicles allowed in the Yukon was 380.