Being vaccinated is the most effective method of preventing the spread of COVID-19, it was said repeatedly at this morning’s weekly virus update.

With the recent arrival of the Delta variant, Premier Sandy Silver and the acting chief medical officer of health, Dr. Catherine Elliott, encouraged unvaccinated Yukoners to roll up their sleeves.

Silver noted that with more than 80 per cent of the eligible population already vaccinated, the territory is leading the country.

But it’s still of the utmost importance to increase the numbers, he insisted.

“To date, the science shows vaccination is effective against known variants, like Delta,” the premier said in the hour-long update.

“If you are actively choosing not to get vaccinated, you are leaving yourself and those around you at risk of getting COVID-19. Immunization remains a very powerful tool that allows us to treat COVID-19 as a largely preventable disease.”

Silver encouraged unvaccinated Yukoners to make an appointment.

“Thank you to each and every Yukoner who has stepped up to receive their two jabs,” he said.

“It is because of you that more than 80 per cent of eligible Yukoners over the age of 12 are now fully vaccinated. We continue to lead the country in vaccine rates.”

Elliott said there are currently 50 active cases, compared with 47 on Wednesday, and 616 Yukoners have recovered.

The acting chief medical officer said the first case of the Delta variant was detected Wednesday, and now there are two.

But Elliott said she expects to see more in the coming days, accompanied by exposure alerts.

The investigations of the two cases announced this week are complete, and their contacts are isolating.

One person with the Delta variant is hospitalized, Wednesday’s report stated.

There are no exposure events within the Yukon associated with these cases.

The Delta variant is more infectious and transmittable, she noted.

Elliott said the Yukon is in a good position, and continued vigilance will help keep it that way.

“I appreciate that this news of the Delta variant may be concerning, and I want to be clear that this transmission occurred outside of the Yukon and that there have been no known exposures to others in the Yukon,” Elliott said Wednesday afternoon in revealing the variant’s arrival.

“We know Delta is on the rise and it is only a matter of time until we see more cases so, Yukoners, please do your part to protect yourself and others and get vaccinated.

Although the territory’s state of emergency is scheduled to end next Wednesday, Yukoners need to maintain practising the safe-6, such as wearing masks in crowded areas, she said during this morning’s briefing.

“I encourage all Yukoners to get vaccinated,” Elliott added.

If Yukoners are worried about how they’ll react to the vaccine, she said, they should talk to their family doctor.

The Yukon, said Elliott, is well prepared as the territory moves out of the pandemic.

The premier said he is confident students, teachers and school staff will remain safe upon their return to school next week.

“I am confident in our K-12 school guidelines for 2021-2022 and that the lessons we have all learned over the past year together with the guidance from the chief medical officer of health will allow us to have a successful school year.” he said.

Students in Dawson City and Pelly Crossing returned this week, he pointed out. Many Whitehorse students will troop back into the classrooms on Monday.

Silver said he was proud to be releasing the document Forging Ahead: The Yukon’s Continuing Response to COVID-19.

“This document, guided by advice from the chief medical officer of health,will pilot the way forward as the Yukon adjusts to living with COVID-19,” he said.

“Our top priority is still protecting the health and safety of Yukoners.”

As the state of emergency will end Wednesday, he said, Forging Ahead helps the Yukon to see that territory has other, more flexible tools to utilize for living with COVID-19.

He said the document contains six pillars that will guide how the Yukon prepares to respond to future surges and inform the ongoing response.

“For example, Pillar 1 centres on First Nations and community partnerships,” said the premier.

“Our partnerships and committed collaboration have made all the difference in managing the virus across the territory.

“Working together makes us stronger and we will ensure close government-to-government communication with First Nations and municipalities continues.”

Municipal leaders have been doing a good job of dismissing false information about the vaccine and promoting safe practices in dealing with the pandemic.

The other pillars are: vaccination; testing and surveillance; surge capacity; social supports for vulnerable people and public health measure.

Forging Ahead will be released to the public shortly, if it hasn’t already been, he said.

“We shaped Forging Ahead with the knowledge that social connection, physical and mental health, and economic vitality are fundamental to how we need to move on with our recovery and beyond.”

Elliott noted that a rapid response team was sent to Ross River to assist with a surge in cases (see story below).

Both Elliott and Silver extended gratitude to the health care professionals for the work they have been doing since the pandemic broke out 17 months ago.

Silver said the thoughts of Yukoners are with the communities of Haines, Alaska and Good Hope in the N.W.T. who are currently experiencing large numbers of active cases.

A total of eight Yukoners have died from COVID-19 since November 2020.

See letter to Silver and Elliott.