The Yukon government launched its COVID-19 recovery plan Friday afternoon and has officially entered the first of four phases of reopening.

The territory won’t reopen completely until a vaccine to the virus is available, in what the Yukon government notes as phase five.

“Like any path we are on our very first steps, there is still a very long way to go,” said Premier Sandy Silver told a media briefing.

“We will be using an objective, risk-based approach that will guide our reopening next steps that will begin allowing for more flexibility for Yukoners.”

Silver and Dr. Brendan Hanley, the chief medical officer, presented the the recovery plan.

The first phase will see the government continue with opening guidelines for businesses and organizations planning to open their doors.

This includes guidelines for allied health professionals and child care, including summer and day camps.

Each business will be required to submit an operational plan for reopening. Businesses that have been mandated to close will need to have their plan approved before they can reopen.

Personal services and restaurants can begin their reopening plans using the template provided on the Yukon government website, and officials are available to help develop these plans, Silver said.

Government officials will then review these plans to ensure the businesses are ready to open when the chief medical officer opens the shutter for those required to close.

Personal care services and restaurants cannot operate until Hanley lifts the closure order, which is slated to happen during phase one, but has not occurred yet.

Hanley noted that bars pose a different level of risk, and the closure order on those will be lifted separately from restaurants.

Businesses that have not been mandated to close are also required to have an operational plan, but will not be required to seek approval for it.

These operational plans will remain in effect through the course of the four phases, until a vaccine is available.

Hanley said physical distancing among staff and customers is a fundamental component of maintaining a safe workplace, and is one of the measures that won’t be lifted until the end of the pandemic, along with tight border closures.

“Until we get to that scenario of vaccine available and into arms, we are not going to be in a low-risk COVID situation in the country,” Hanley said.

“If we don’t get to a successful vaccine, we are going to have to look to other strategies.”

In phase one of reopening, households are now permitted to choose a second household to include in their safety bubble, Hanley said.

“Both households have to agree on that arrangement,” Hanley said.

“These will be known as a two-household bubble, or double bubble.”

The members of these two households can interact with each other as they would their own roommates and family members, but must limit close contact only to those in the bubble, Hanley explained.

The slow plan for reopening is not necessarily permanent, and could be clawed back if risk of the virus resurges in the territory and threatens public health capacity.

“We are able to begin phase one because of the vigilance and precautions of Yukoners … this vigilance must continue if we are going to continue to move past phase one,” Silver said.

“We also know that there are risks associated with going too fast, like having to turn back the dial and having to tighten up again.”

The premier said that the phased plan for reopening is a two-way street, and relaxations could potentially be backed up.

Hanley said it will likely take two weeks before every aspect of phase one to be clarified and realized, and each phase could last anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

The government’s plan for reopening includes a base estimation of the 15 total economic and fiscal response initiatives, totalling $27.6 million.