Last Friday’s notification of possible COVID-19 exposure in Whitehorse and Dawson City led to a surge in requested tests, causing a temporary backlog, according to health officials.

“There were many people calling that did not have symptoms and we were not asking people without symptoms to get tested,” Dr. Brendan Hanley, the Yukon’s chief medical officer, told a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon.

“We also did not anticipate the surge in demand for testing that did not have to do with the contacts.”

Last Friday afternoon’s advisory from Hanley’s office warned that two travellers who visited Dawson and Whitehorse from July 20 to July 23 tested positively for COVID-19 shortly after returning home, in a jurisdiction the office did not identify.

Hanley said the advisory seemed to be a “wake-up call” to many Yukoners who had been experiencing symptoms of sickness for several days.

“The notification served as a reminder that when people are experiencing symptoms, they should call and do a self-assessment,” Hanley said.

“We need to live as if COVID cases are already among us.”

The surge in requested tests resulted in a delay for some people last weekend.

"We're looking at ways to make sure the (Respiratory Assessment Centre), or the testing site in Whitehorse, still has the capacity if this level of testing demand remains,” Hanley said.

In the future, Hanley said, he is looking to clarify public health messaging so people know when to request a test.

There have been no additional COVID-19 cases discovered in the territory since July 20. 

Hanley provided some details on the methods for contact tracing. He said his office received several questions regarding how information is shared when an advisory is posted.

When individuals have been exposed to COVID-19, they will be contacted by health officials directly. 

When clear details on locations and times of potential exposure are available, a public notification will be issued.

If spacing and sanitation protocols have been reliably followed at a location, it won’t be identified as a contact location.

A broader notification, like the one for Dawson last week, is issued when multiple locations have been visited over several days with little exact detail. This community-wide type of notification is “only done as a last resort,” health officials said.

Hanley said his office is very careful about naming specific businesses and will contact those establishments first. 

“Posting a location is not a reflection on the business at all,” Hanley said.

Premier Sandy Silver, meanwhile, provided an update to enforcement numbers on Wednesday.

Two people have been charged this week for failing to self-isolate under the Civil Emergency Measures Act. So far, six people have been fined for violating the act.

“Self-isolation, as required, is one of the safe six, but it’s not a recommendation; it’s an order when you’re required to do it,” Silver said.

“It’s incredibly important to preventing the spread of COVID-19.”

The Yukon’s enforcement officers have fielded 526 complaints since April 29. Most of these were related to concerns over self-isolation and out-of-territory licence plates.

Since April 29, 32,104 travellers have entered or passed through the Yukon – 6,067 Yukoners, 4,115 B.C. residents and 14,100 non-residents transiting through the territory.

The visitor information centres in Watson Lake, Beaver Creek and the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre are closing this week.

Staff from those centres will be moved to information stations at the Yukon’s borders. They will provide visitors with COVID-19 resources and information.

Guidelines for bars, pubs and lounges to permit live music were issued this week.

Performing musicians must be physically spaced from patrons and each other, and must be screened for illness. Solo karaoke performances will also be permitted.

Dancing and self-serve bar service won’t be allowed under the new bar guidelines.