The Yukon has a sixth case of COVID-19, and three of the previous cases are now fully recovered.

“We remain, therefore, in a good position, with no cases outside Whitehorse and all cases doing well,” Dr. Brendan Hanley, the territory’s chief medical officer, said Wednesday afternoon.

The sixth case is a person in the Whitehorse area who returned from travel in Europe in the last two weeks. The individual followed self-isolation protocols after returning, and is now recovering at home.

There have been 722 Yukoners tested for COVID-19, with 690 proving negative. Twenty-six tests are still pending.

Hanley said he is confident there is still no community spread of the virus, meaning cases not associated with a travel-imported case.

Hanley also announced updates to Whitehorse airport screening, support for vulnerable people and new work camp guidelines.

Air North staff are now greeting all travellers returning to Whitehorse with instructions to self-isolate for 14 days and advice to self-monitor for symptoms of cough, fever and difficulty breathing.

All people arriving in the Yukon are advised to go straight home and into self-isolation, without making stops on the way.

If someone cannot safely self-isolate at home, he or she should contact the Yukon government for support via email at COVID19info@gov.yk.ca.

An isolation centre has been set up at the Coast High Country Inn on Fourth Avenue for people who cannot safely self-isolate at home.

A government spokesperson confirmed to the Star that the Quebec couple who attempted to seek refuge from the virus in Old Crow last Friday is now self-isolating at the hotel, as per government instruction.

Hanley described several measures in place at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter to keep vulnerable populations and staff safe.

These include actively monitoring guests for symptoms and reducing the number of people gathering in the Fourth Avenue shelter.

“Staff there have been working intensely to adapt to today’s COVID realities,” Hanley said.

Shelter staff are also working to enable safe spacing and education about hygiene and coughing etiquette.

Isolated accommodation is available at the shelter for guests who need to isolate.

Staff are also helping people who don’t require shelter supports to find alternative, temporary accommodation.

The government is working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to equip staff with guidance and resources for supporting vulnerable clients.

Additional work camp guidelines have been issued and will affect mine employees in the territory. The guidelines will direct staff on self-isolation requirements, safe spacing, food handling and hygiene.

Companies are encouraged to pay staff while they self-isolate, to ensure that the rules are followed.

Hanley said the territory is working to acquire more equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators.

“We’re in very active, very intense discussions with the federal government and with our counterparts; also with our northern counterparts on acquiring supplies through the current federal bulk purchase as well as various other arrangements.”

Acquisition of PPE has now been centralized to include hospitals, the Department of Health and Social Services and community organizations.

Ventilator acquisition is a separate process from PPE, because it requires additional oxygen supply, consumables and staffing to support the extra equipment. The territory currently has nine working ventilators.

Hanley said this is still a “very active area” of search planning, but public health measures will do more to save lives than an expanded number of ventilators will.

“Flattening that curve as much as we can –– that’s going to be our biggest answer to critical care needs.”