The Yukon government and public health officials aren’t wavering from their plan to slowly and cautiously loosen health restrictions.

That was the consensus from this morning’s weekly COVID-19 briefing.

Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai and Dr. Catherine Elliott, the acting chief medical officer of health, hosted the event.

Elliott said there are currently 99 active cases in the Yukon identified by the government.

However, with a testing positivity rate of 35 per cent, that’s clear evidence of significant community spread of the virus, particularly the Omicron variant.

Elliott said that means there are many more unidentified cases in the territory.

She said there are some preliminary signs the current Omicron wave has reached its peak, or is close to it, but there’s much more work to be done.

“We’re only halfway there,” she said. “It looks like we might have reached the peak, but it’s not certain.”

With small populations such as the Yukon’s, there’s more danger of serious fluctuations happening quickly, Pillai and Elliott said.

That’s why the government is sticking to its cautious week-by-week plan to loosen restrictions until the beginning of March, she said.

Elliott acknowledged things are moving faster in other jurisdictions in Canada, and around the world, but the Yukon wouldn’t be following suit.

The Omicron outbreak hit the territory later than most other places, she said, and still has a ways to go until it subsides.

“We’ve lagged behind other jurisdictions,” Elliott said. “We’re well aware other jurisdictions are moving faster, but it’s not a good idea to ease restrictions now.”

Pillai said, “You’re not going to see us do that.”

He said the government will be talking a “calculated process” to loosening restrictions.

Elliott and Pillai also noted the rush to end restrictions elsewhere, including in Denmark, has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases.