Whitehorse Daily Star

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Dr. Catherine Elliott

Delta variant is infecting vaccinated people

Dr. Catherine Elliott

By Tim Giilck on October 13, 2021

Amid what’s looking more and more like another COVID-19 outbreak, Dr. Catherine Elliott, the acting chief medical officer of health, is strongly recommending that Yukoners return to wearing masks.

“I am concerned with the increasing number of cases we are seeing daily,” Elliott said in a statement released late Tuesday afternoon.

“We started at two cases a day, then four, and now we are seeing 11 and 12. After the Gamma wave in June, we hit a low point in August, seeing two cases a day for a couple of weeks, then four a day and now 11 to 12 new cases a day.

“Wearing a mask in places where you don’t know everyone or their vaccine status is a small sacrifice to avoid getting sick,” Elliott added.

“If a business or a facility asks you to wear a mask because that is their policy, please respect that. If people choose to wear a mask, even where it isn’t required, respect their intentions to keep themselves and others safe from the spread of COVID-19.”

She added she “strongly recommended the consistent use of masks in all indoor public spaces.”

Her urging comes with the announcement of 36 new cases over the past 96 hours, from noon last Friday through noon Tuesday.

The current active case count is 58. This number includes 28 Yukon residents and eight out-of-territory residents diagnosed in the Yukon.

“The Delta variant is circulating in southern jurisdictions and spreading in the Yukon with more Yukoners travelling more frequently now than they were last year,” Elliott said.

“All of this, combined with the approach of flu season, means we must take steps to protect ourselves, our families and our community from the spread of COVID-19.”

Troublingly, Elliott said, “The Delta variant is infecting those who are vaccinated along with those who are not, or who are partially vaccinated. Those who are fully vaccinated, however, are not getting as ill.”

The release added Elliott is “also concerned that we are seeing rapid and widespread transmission among groups and social networks with very low vaccination rates and individuals.

“Unvaccinated individuals are highly integrated into the Yukon and therefore sharing disease throughout  vaccinated networks.

“While this is a strong health recommendation and not an order, businesses and facilities still have the right to ask you to wear a mask.”

More exposure notices were also issued by Elliott, including one for École Whitehorse Elementary School. The Star has obtained an email from government officials to parents at the school.

“This is an urgent notice from the Department of Education for Whitehorse Elementary School to let you know that Yukon Communicable Disease Control (YCDC) has confirmed a case of COVID-19 that will impact the Grade 5B class,” the email says.

“A letter from YCDC is attached to this email, which provides specific clinical direction for students and staff regarding who needs to self-isolate, who needs to be tested for COVID-19, and who needs to self-monitor for symptoms.

“Whitehorse Elementary School remains open and is following their Operational Plan for Communicable Disease. We continue to work closely with YCDC and Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health to ensure necessary measures are in place to protect all students and staff. Please read the attached letter for the complete clinical direction from YCDC,” the email adds. 

“The Department of Education will continue to work with your school administration to keep parents, guardians and staff informed,” Marilyn Marquis-Forster, A/ADM, of the Department of Education, states in the email.

The Star has received some inquiries as to whether Elijah Smith Elementary School has been closed due to COVID-19 problems.

“Elijah Smith Elementary School was open on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021,” said Krisandra Reid, a communications analyst with the Department of Education.

“On Oct. 5 and 10, staff and parents of students received notification emails from the Department of Education regarding urgent letters from Yukon Communicable Disease Control (YCDC). The school remained open on these dates as well.

“The YCDC letters (details available on the COVID-19 Exposure Notices webpage) provided information to families about specific classes impacted by confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, as well as directions for those impacted regarding self-isolation, self-monitoring for symptoms and testing,” Reid wrote.

“Students who stay home from school because they are sick or are asked to self-isolate are supported with continued learning at home.”

Other public exposure notices issued late Tuesday afternoon are for:

• Sanchez Cantina, 211 Hanson St., between 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Oct. 7, and between 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Oct. 8; and

• Duffy’s Pets and Tanzilla Harness Supply, 407 Alexander St., between noon and 6 p.m. Oct. 7 and Oct. 8.

If you were at these locations on either of these dates, self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days through Oct. 21 or 22 inclusive. 

An exposure alert was also issued for Air North flight 4N510 for Oct. 6, Vancouver to Whitehorse, with a scheduled departure at 9:25 a.m. and arrival at 11:55 a.m.

If you were on this flight, self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days through Oct. 20 inclusive. 

Comments (29)

Up 4 Down 0

Groucho d'North on Oct 17, 2021 at 3:38 pm

UPDATE: CBC has posted the Fifth Estate TV program feature I noted below. Watch and learn.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cansino-deal-canada-nrc-fifth-estate-1.6208241

Up 30 Down 42

Clarabelle on Oct 16, 2021 at 5:27 am

The unvaccinated are taking up intensive care beds for 30+ days and putting health care workers at risk. Also can spread COVID to children who are unprotected and the elderly who are more at risk. And create another dangerous variant.
The hospital emergencies can’t treat everyone. The unvaccinated should stay home when they get COVID, rest and drink hot tea with honey and lemon, eat garlic and get some decongestant. Please leave the needed hospital beds for essential surgeries and true emergencies.

Up 39 Down 19

Juniper Jackson on Oct 15, 2021 at 8:00 pm

“Unvaccinated individuals are highly integrated into the Yukon and therefore sharing disease throughout vaccinated networks." This is a pretty inflammatory statement given research proof, public announcements that double vaxxed persons can get and can pass on covid. Another measure to force people to do the governments bidding. I am double vaxxed. It was my passive/aggressive choice because the government said I couldn't see my children if I wasn't. My need to see them was greater than my desire to fight a government taking away my right to choose what I can and cannot do with my body.
Covid has become the new distraction. What are the lying Liberals up to now? We'll never find out, because they build a covid fear wall that very few want to climb over. Ontario is preparing for rotating blackouts, shelves are empty, only the rich can buy beef. Anyone care to comment on how this is going to end? Will it be as bad as Venezuela? Oh.. how many people with no underlying conditions? Under the age of 65? have passed on from Delta? Or covid 19?

Up 24 Down 38

Yaw on Oct 15, 2021 at 5:17 pm

@ jeff bikiboom

It’s you and your ilk that have us in this situation. With 100% vaccination there would be next to no spread, no chance for variants.
Now, you guys can sit in the margins, enjoying your ‘freedum’ while the rational 95% carry on with life.

After you’ve lost your job, be sure not to apply on any of those communist programs like CERB, EI or SA.

Up 54 Down 30

jeff bikiboom on Oct 15, 2021 at 2:57 pm

“Unvaccinated individuals are highly integrated into the Yukon and therefore sharing disease throughout vaccinated networks."
The logic in this quote is why I am losing my job. We need passports, it's the only way forward. We have to protect the precious vaccinated. Their vax doesn't work unless everyone else has one too.

Do the unvaxxed have magic powers that spread the disease they don't have to the people that have been vaxxed against it, all while suffering no ill effects?

So when all the unvaxxed are banned from working and public spaces and people are still getting sick, what will the scapegoat be then? Omega variant likely, until we get to the final variant known as communism.

Up 49 Down 11

Groucho d'North on Oct 15, 2021 at 9:52 am

As I see it, the greatest victim in all of this pandemic is Trust. Who do you believe and why? Do you believe the politcians who are well practiced at bending the truth? Do you believe the medical talking heads who are on the leash held by the politcians? Do you believe the independent scientists who offer conflicting viewpoints on treating the COVID?
The virus is just the catalyst for determining who can be trusted. The Oct. 15th edition of the Fifth Estate reveals just some of the behind the scenes jiggery-pokery that has occured since COVID was detected. https://morns.ca/2021/10/15/how-a-failed-deal-with-china-to-produce-a-made-in-canada-covid-19-vaccine-wasted-months-and-millions/

Up 36 Down 17

TheHammer on Oct 14, 2021 at 7:17 pm

Canada is a nation of nomads. Everyday we see new people on the streets, half of them or more probably don't listen to or read the news. The number of jobless people seems to be increasing. Winter used to be our protection from itinerate drifters. More and more people look like they need a wash, men with pants backside half way to their knees, walking around looking like members of Assassins' Creed, in short a population of irresponsible, immature, amoral, COVID attractors with the collective IQ of a Wuhan Bat.

Up 42 Down 39

Gord Bradshaw on Oct 14, 2021 at 6:19 pm

It's worth pointing out that no one ever said the vaccines were going to guarantee invulnerability against covid-19. The best that was projected was 95% effectiveness, and by that they meant reducing the impact of the virus. And that was against the original virus. Since then variants have appeared, the need for boosters has arisen in some cases, and a significant portion of the population has been hesitant.

Of course vaccinated people are getting infected. But they are not taking up as much of the healthcare systems resources as the unvaccinated people, and they are less effective at spreading the virus.

Up 42 Down 40

Sheepchaser on Oct 14, 2021 at 4:20 pm

Hahaha… A little bit of knowledge, some marginal reading comprehension and a ton of confirmation bias make for another hilarious comments section. The 0.1% freedom crowd whining about being uncomfortable. Posting proudly about acting as intentional super narcissists… sorry, spreaders. The loudest voice that thinks their own echo is a conversation.

The mask is the new flag of the reasonably intelligent, the educated, the community-minded, anyone truly inclined to any level of public service or the smallest of individual sacrifice… not just those pretending to uphold those values.

Our forebears who emptied their bank accounts to the war effort, survived on tight rations, or died charging into gunfire would be horrified at the never ending whinefest that is the modern concept of freedom. Grow up.

Up 25 Down 25

oh, wow on Oct 14, 2021 at 12:44 pm

Same folks popping up with youtube video links, and 'plandemic' conspiracy references. It's old news, all right. Get vaccinated/don't get vaccinated, wear a mask/don't wear a mask, whatever. But at this stage of the game, seriously just give all the 2020 stuff a rest, stop trying to justify your decision (whatever it might be).

Up 72 Down 45

iBrian on Oct 14, 2021 at 9:15 am

It doesn’t worry me. When the Health Officials start to address obesity, type 2 diabetes, actually develop a get off drugs program. Then I will
Start listening to what a CMO says. But unfortunately I stop caring about all this BS Covid stuff when I asked at the clinic while getting my second shot why we don’t have 3 Catagorys of Covid, Vaccinated/unvaccinated and exposed and natural immunity. The nurse said that the tests turn out a high rate of false positives so unless you were ill, they don’t really know if you had Covid and not a cold or Flu.
I have been in close contact with 5 ill Covid positive people and I developed no symptoms.
It’s a flu, time to move on.

Up 71 Down 35

Fear Mongering on Oct 14, 2021 at 8:34 am

This is fear mongering at it's best. We always knew that vaccinated people could still get COVID.
How about we just start treating this as what it is -- the new seasonal flu -- and move on with our lives and quit living in fear.

Up 58 Down 28

Himbo on Oct 14, 2021 at 7:47 am

Oh wow.. after all that.. can someone please get this vaccine out of me since it’s useless?

Up 53 Down 37

Josey Wales on Oct 14, 2021 at 7:17 am

Delta now eh? Yes it is infecting folks that took the poke, imagine that eh?

Funny nobody really wished to eradicate, but instead enable...stupid.
The stupid that clearly has infected many in our society.
I suggest the stupid I speak of is far more dangerous than many things the state...”keeps us safe from”!

We have been living in a epically failed liberal experiment since the mid 1960s...like lab rats, or study monkeys they keep legislating stupid on us to get their desired result.

As a result of the failed experiment, ya get what ya have here today...
Bizarro world where boys can have babies, terrorists turn into millionaires, imports with zero in common culturally speaking become bloviating politicians very, very quickly, child predators operate virtually unmolested whilst they molest, man....I really could fill this post with the epic stupid I speak of but...
Seems our senses have been impaired by like “gain of function research “
Policies that absolutely designed to create more lethal.... Child predators.
Rapists, both child and adult rapists as in they being the victims.
Career Cultural Criminals.

If we could take an injection to cure it, ya think they would promote it?
N.A.F.C.
OJW PSA...carry on

Up 55 Down 60

Wes on Oct 14, 2021 at 7:17 am

Yeah, yeah, you can still get the flu even after getting the seasonal shot, but you don’t get as sick.
The only people living in a fantasy land over vaccinations are the ones using this headline as some sort of “gotcha” moment.
The sooner everyone gets vaccinated, the sooner we can get out of this. While we still have a large number of unvaccinated people, the more the virus will keep percolating and mutating.

Up 57 Down 56

Matthew on Oct 14, 2021 at 6:10 am

“Unvaccinated individuals are highly integrated into the Yukon and therefore sharing disease throughout vaccinated networks"

Huh!? How can you even say that with a straight face!? How do unvaccinated spread the disease, it's the vaxed that have injected something unknown and brand new into them.. actually spreading it..

Up 32 Down 9

JohnW on Oct 13, 2021 at 11:45 pm

Most people don't want the truth, they only want reassurance that their beliefs are "true". If you're happy with the lack of common sense and contradictory propaganda from the politically appointed health system bureaucrats, then fill yer boots.

However, if you're looking for medical facts and truth from actual practicing doctors with far more medical experience than the health bureaucrats, then this presentation of information from Canadian Dr. Eric Payne may interest you.
https://youtu.be/DjvYAS4Y3SA
This video concisely summarizes the main points that Dr. Payne makes, but listening to the full episode is recommended.
Full Episode - https://youtu.be/zgZt2-qOiXs

Dr. Eric Payne is a Pediatric Neurologist at the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, Canada. He penned a letter to the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta council which has since gone viral.
Link to Dr.Payne's letter -https://www.jccf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sep-15-FINAL-PAYNE-CPSA-letter.pdf

Up 56 Down 47

Michelle on Oct 13, 2021 at 10:21 pm

We should be thankful for people who have chosen not to take this mRNA treatment since they are now the control group for this global experiment. FYI - As soon as the covid treatment was approved for emergency use only, the trials stopped and all participants, including the placebo group, were offered the shot. Overall, it's just all very sad that many folks have been vaccinated without informed consent as to the risks and alternative therapeutic and tested treatments. www.yukonfreedom.com

Up 51 Down 33

bonanzajoe on Oct 13, 2021 at 8:16 pm

The plandemic is working well according to expectations.

Up 59 Down 30

North_of_60 on Oct 13, 2021 at 7:47 pm

Elliott said, “The Delta variant is infecting those who are vaccinated along with those who are not, or who are partially vaccinated. ...also concerned that we are seeing rapid and widespread transmission among groups and social networks... Unvaccinated individuals are highly integrated into the Yukon and therefore sharing disease throughout vaccinated networks."

Medical science evidence shows that so-called "vaccination" does not prevent people from catching and spreading Covid. Therefore it's also equally true that Vaccinated individuals are highly integrated into the Yukon and therefore sharing disease throughout vaccinated networks.

Unsubstantiated attempts to blame the continuing spread of Covid on the "unvacinated" are disingenuous and not supported by medical science. We should be hearing more objective comments supported by medical evidence from a Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Up 38 Down 34

Gary on Oct 13, 2021 at 7:47 pm

She must be taking direction from that Hanley! Lookout - masks are going to become mandatory again!

Up 79 Down 8

old news on Oct 13, 2021 at 6:14 pm

Can YG PLEASE start providing the age categories of positive cases, as well as vaccination status (unvaccinated, partially or fully)? This is information that can be made publicly available while still protecting privacy. Perhaps this information would enable the public to make better choices, whatever. These stats would highlight some truth, so why keep does YG continue to keep it a secret? If the unvaccinated are getting sick at higher rates, show us. If the vaccinated are spreading it at higher rates, show us. If our kids - our kids!- are getting sick and/or hospitalized, show us.

YG you’re WAY past due for transparency in your stat reporting. It’s no wonder people (especially those who once believed) are starting to question. This is a fixable problem, and you’re doing nothing to inform.

Up 69 Down 42

John G on Oct 13, 2021 at 5:34 pm

“Respect everyone’s personal choice” Except when it comes to the vaccination, right? Firing people who aren’t vaccinated is absolutely disgusting. So many people are being FORCED into this just to keep their job. Is working not a human right? Give your heads a shake.

Up 43 Down 8

J2 on Oct 13, 2021 at 5:28 pm

RE: Hate to break it to you's journal article.

Why did you not also quote the authors' summary?

"In summary, even as efforts should be made to encourage populations to get vaccinated it should be done so with
humility and respect. Stigmatizing populations can do more harm than good. Importantly, other non-pharmacological
prevention efforts (e.g., the importance of basic public health hygiene with regards to maintaining safe distance or
hand washing, promoting better frequent and cheaper forms of testing) needs to be renewed in order to strike the balance
of learning to live with COVID-19 in the same manner we continue to live a 100 years later with various seasonal
alterations of the 1918 Influenza virus."

The narrative has not changed. Vaccines were always touted as only being a part of the defense against Covid 19. People, including the vaccinated, still need to follow the Safe 6 plus one to minimize outbreaks.

Up 45 Down 19

Rick S on Oct 13, 2021 at 5:10 pm

January headline: Vaccinated dying at higher rates but dying less harder than unvaccinated, says Elliot.

Up 35 Down 19

Matthew on Oct 13, 2021 at 5:07 pm

Hmm.. who would have thought that.. LOL! They're the ones spreading it!

Up 45 Down 33

Sarah Davison on Oct 13, 2021 at 4:33 pm

Where's the evidence masks control the spread of the virus?
Where's the evidence of an increase in the death rate?
Why the emphasis on the unvaccinated rather than the ages and co-morbidities of the dead?
Do therapeutics not work here as well as in other places?
Why this immediate reflex to lock down the entire population, rather than advocating healthy lifestyles, increased intake of zinc, Vit D & C, and clear guidance for people to stop smoking weed?

Up 116 Down 86

Thomas Brewer on Oct 13, 2021 at 4:05 pm

Instead of spreading fear and rhetoric, how about some scientific information... like how Delta doesn't make kids sicker, and that immunity from exposure to the virus is far better than the vaccine.
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/delta-does-not-appear-make-children-sicker-secondary-immune-response-stronger-2021-10-08/

I'm all for personal choice, if people want to wear a mask, go for it. But I didn't spend the last 20 months practicing the "Safe 6" and getting double vaccinated to still be forced to wear a mask... it has to end.

Up 71 Down 99

Hate to break it to you on Oct 13, 2021 at 3:25 pm

But the narrative is being challenged substantially.
Is Harvard reputable enough?
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10654-021-00808-7.pdf

"Increases in COVID‑19 are unrelated to levels of vaccination across 68
countries and 2947 counties in the United States"

Vaccination has zero effect on spreading COVID. But, hey, go spend millions of tax dollars on companies that were about to go bankrupt! Placebo's be a powerful thing

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