Ottawa has given the Yukon government more than $4 million to establish what’s being called “safe isolation sites” for those afflicted with COVID-19, the Star has learned.

Yukon MP Brendan Hanley made an announcement about the plan last Thursday – but no information was provided to Yukon news outlets.

Premier Sandy Silver co-hosted a COVID-19 media briefing that day, but said nothing about the planned isolation sites.

Nor was anything made available by the office of Dr. Catherine Elliott, the acting chief medical officer of health.

“Self-isolation is one of the most effective ways to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” Hanley’s release stated.

“However, for some people in Canada, crowded housing conditions and high costs can make it unsafe or impossible to self-isolate, putting themselves, their families and communities at risk through no fault of their own.”

The news release reported Hanley, speaking for Jean-Yves Duclos, the federal minister of Health, announcing more than $4 million for the territorial government to create and operate safe voluntary isolation sites in the territory.

“These sites help people who have COVID-19 — or have been exposed to it — access safe isolation accommodations to keep themselves and their community safe.”

The release does not provide a timeline for the facilities to open.

Two unspecified sites are to be selected, totalling 25 rooms in Whitehorse and Watson Lake.

To be exact, the federal government is providing $4,016,390 to the Yukon government.

Asked for more details on the plans Tuesday, Hanley told the Star, “As COVID-19 evolves, the pandemic continues to have a concerning impact on the lives of Canadians, as seen with the recent Omicron variant.

“Isolation of cases and contacts has been effective in protecting others from infection and in keeping our communities safe.

“When individuals are unable to safely isolate at home, the Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites Program will help to ensure that we can keep our loved ones safe.”

The Yukon government only acknowledged the pending isolation units after the Star questioned government representatives on Tuesday afternoon.

A government spokesperson replied that it was a federal announcement – and that Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee had provided a comment in the federal release.

“Providing safe voluntary isolation sites will help eliminate barriers that can make it difficult for some Yukoners to properly self-isolate,” McPhee said.

“We know that self-isolation is an important public health measure that limits the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.

“By increasing access to safe places to self-isolate, we are in turn protecting Yukon families and communities.”

Yukon Party MLA Brad Cathers told the Star late this morning, “It’s very interesting this announcement hasn’t been talked about.”

He is particularly puzzled about the Yukon government not talking up the $4 million in funding – as is typical for such announcements.

Cathers said he wonders if the project will be awarded as a sole-source contract.

That means it would not be open to public bidding – but instead would go to a firm hand-picked by the government.

While that’s sometimes appropriate, Cathers said, such a decision is always open to more intense scrutiny.

On an overall basis, Cathers said, while the Yukon Party recognizes there might be some need for the service the new self-isolation units will provide, there are more pressing needs in the territorial health system that money could be used for.

“We’d like to see some more investments there,” he said.

Since the first safe voluntary isolation site opened in Toronto in September 2020, more than 15,000 people have sought access and support through one of the federally funded sites across the country.