The Yukon government’s latest bi-weekly respiratory surveillance report indicates COVID-19 cases had been rising for the previous two weeks while flu and RSV cases were in decline.

The data were posted last Wednesday.

The report notes that COVID-19 test positivity rose compared to the previous two weeks, and was highest in rural Yukon.

The COVID-19 Omicron BQ.1 variant was the organism with the highest rolling average test positivity over those weeks, and the rate of confirmed COVID-19 in the Yukon was stable and lower than previous years.

The report does not provide details on the number of people who were confirmed to be infected.

Nor does it indicate if there were any hospitalizations during that period due to COVID -19.

Visits to community health centres for respiratory-related symptoms were increasing in the central and west, dropping in the north, and stable in the southeast.

The testing volume was highest among Whitehorse residents over the last two weeks.

The report also noted that the 811 call centre had an increase in the rate of calls for respiratory-related reasons compared to the previous two weeks and that hospitalization rates were decreasing, and similar to previous years.

The COVID-19 wastewater viral load in Haines Junction was increasing during the first weeks of April after being in decline during most of March.

The report now shows the viral load is in decline.

Overall, 20 per cent of the Yukon population is up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. The highest up-to-date coverage is in the 70-plus age group.

Influenza A test positivity remained the same compared to the previous two weeks, and was the same in rural Yukon and the Whitehorse area.

Influenza B test positivity decreased compared to the previous two weeks, and was highest in the Whitehorse area.

RSV test positivity diminished compared to the previous two weeks, and was highest in rural Yukon.

Influenza vaccination coverage is at 29 per cent for the Yukon population this season. The highest coverage rate is in the 70-plus age group and among residents of Old Crow.

Influenza vaccination uptake is plateauing, and COVID-19 vaccination uptake is plateauing for dose four and dose five.

The federal site reported for the two-week period ending April 17 that there were 5,805 new confirmed COVID cases in Canada and 57 deaths.

That compares with 7,858 new cases and 212 deaths two weeks earlier.