The importance of Yukoners getting vaccinated was emphasized over and over again in the weekly COVID-19 update this morning.

Dr. Brendan Hanley, the chief medical officer of health, emphasized the importance of being vaccinated, as did Premier Sandy Silver snd Kwanlin Dun First Nation Chief Doris Bill.

“Getting vaccinated is the best you can do to protect yourself, your friends and your neighbours,” Silver said during the briefing.

The premier noted that Yukoners are in an outbreak, and have seen more cases of COVID in the last 14 days than there were in the last 14 months.

Bill said the only way to help the current situation is by everybody working together.

“All of us as Yukoners can do our part and take simple steps,” she said. “Number one: get vaccinated.”

Bill said it’s the best way to protect yourself, your friends and your community.

Practising the Safe 6 plus one must be maintained, said the chief.

She said this is not the time to invite people to your house, nor is it the time for house parties and gatherings.

It is time to be kind to one another, as many people are going through difficult times, she said, adding it’s important to be supportive and lift each other up.

Hanley noted there have been 144 new COVID infections since June 1, and he expects to see more as a result of the outbreak.

“We need to take an aggressive approach to find COVID,” he added.

It’s like the catalyst for the outbreak began in mid-May. Officials are not sure of the source but it may be related to travel, he said.

“I would be very surprised if we find the source,” he said.

The are currently 103 active cases, he added.

Three of the cases ended up in the hospital, and three are still there, with one in intensive care. Two cases have been medivaced south.

Of the 144 cases, 122 were unvaccinated, Hanley said.

He said 12 were fully vaccinated and showed mild reactions to the virus while one, an elderly person, displayed a more serious reaction.

There were eight new cases in the territory from Monday at noon to Tuesday afternoon, seven of which were in Whitehorse in one in a rural community, according to Tuesday’s daily update.

There was a total of 220 cases as of yesterday, with most recovered.

He said more than 500 people are in self-isolation.

Hanley said self-isolation must be carrried out properly, which means people who self-isolate must not share any space with family members or whomever. You must not breathe the same air, he added.

“As long as we have fuel available, COVID will burn,” he said.

Hanley said health professionals are seeing an increase in demand for the vaccinations, with 900 Yukoners being vaccinated in the last week alone.

To date, 72 per cent of adult Yukoners have been vaccinated, but 72 per cent is not enough, he said.

The Yukon needs to get up over 80 per cent, he said.

Despite the recent outbreak, Hanley said the Yukon will not be returning to a lockdown or more restrictions.

Practising the Safe six plus one will help stem the spread if the virus, he said.

Hanley said lockdowns have their own negative impact, and can create issues of mental health wellness that cannot be taken lightly, particularly now that summer has arrived.

It’s important that kids get to go to their summer camp, to get outside, to play with other kids, he said.

Hanley said he’s been working with camp co-ordinators to establish operational guidelines for the camps.

Our situation cannot be reliant on lockdowns and further restrictions, he said.

Hanley said the COVID-19 team has been doing a heroic job in the fight against the pandemic.

Among their tasks is contact tracing and contacting people who have been exposed to somebody who’s been infected, though they don’t disclose the identity of the infected individual, he explained.

When travelling in the Yukon, do it respectfully and follow the safey guidelines, said the premier.

He said municipal leaders and First Nation chiefs have been sharing information.

Hanley said they are right now in discussions with community leaders to see if there is a desire to lift the policy of not identifying communities which have new cases of COVID.

The recent outbreak has affected communities across the territory, he said.

Chief Bill said she believes more information helps to create awareness in the community and people become more vigilant.

Now that people know COVID-19 is a real threat, they are taking it more seriously, she said.