Dr. Brendan Hanley, the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health, confirmed one new case of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the territory’s total to 46 cases.

There are currently 16 active cases in Yukon.

Meanwhile, exposure alerts have been issued for several local businesses and for Whitehorse Transit.

The latest COVID case is in Whitehorse, and is currently under investigation.

A public exposure notification has been issued for Baked Café & Bakery for Nov. 21 between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

If you are experiencing any symptoms and were at this location, self-isolate immediately and call the COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centre at 393-3083 to arrange for testing, or drop in at the drive-through testing centre at Centennial Motors on the Alaska Highway across from the airport.

If you are outside of Whitehorse but were at the location on the indicated date and time, contact your rural community health centre.

Due to a high volume of calls, you may be require to leave a phone number. If you do not receive a call within 24 hours, call back.

If you are waiting for test results, you must self-isolate until you receive your results.

If you were in contact with anyone who was at a location listed in the public exposure notices, you are a secondary contact.

In this situation, it is always wise to monitor yourself for symptoms but you do not need to self-isolate.

If you are not notified and do not have symptoms, you may continue usual daily activities, while always following the safe six, plus one (wear a mask).

Before issuing Sunday’s update, on Friday afternoon, Hanley had confirmed three other cases of COVID-19 in Whitehorse. All remain under investigation.

Cases 43 and 44 are linked to a known case in Whitehorse. Case 45 is linked to travel outside Yukon.

Additional public exposure notifications were issued for:

• Better Bodies, Nov. 1-18, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.;

• Canada Games Centre, in the Wellness Room, Nov. 21, 11 a.m. to noon; and

• Sakura Sushi, Nov. 20, 5 p.m. to closing time.

The Wellness Centre is closed, the city said Friday evening, and all fitness classes have been cancelled until further notice.

The city said Dr. Catherine Elliott, the deputy chief medical officer of health, has advised that the Canada Games Centre should not be closed at this time.

She advises there is no indication that anyone at the centre has been infected with COVID-19.

She recommends that patrons follow COVID-19 protocols in place at the facility.

Exposure notices were also issued for Whitehorse Transit, Nov.18:
• Route #2 from Copper Ridge to Second Avenue between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.;
• Route #2 from Second Avenue to Copper ridge between 5 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Nov. 19;
• Route #2 from Copper Ridge to Second Avenue between the times of 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. ;
• Route #5 from Second Avenue to Range Road between 7:30 p.m. and 7:50 p.m.;
• Route #2 from Second Avenue to Copper Ridge between 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Mask-wearing will be compulsory in public spaces beginning Tuesday.

Anyone who is experiencing any symptoms is asked to self-isolate and arrange for testing immediately.

“The Government of Yukon encourages Yukoners to remain calm and continue to follow the safe six and wear a mask when required,” the government said.

“Please be patient and kind to one another.”

Meanwhile, Nunavut is to start lifting a two-week lockdown on Wednesday as more people infected with COVID-19 recover.

The lockdown that shuttered all schools and non-essential businesses was put in place on Nov. 18 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus that first appeared in the territory early this month.

Dr. Michael Patterson, chief public health officer, says 73 people have recovered from COVID-19 and 108 cases remain active.

Patterson says only Arviat, which has 86 active cases, will remain in lockdown for at least another two weeks and travel to the community will still be restricted.

In all other parts of the territory, schools can open part time.

Patterson warns that if another outbreak occurs, restrictions will be reintroduced.

Four new cases were reported today to bring Nunavut’s total to 181.

With a file from The Canadian Press.

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