The Yukon’s state of emergency will end in two weeks if the current situation remains stable.

That was the word from Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn during this morning’s weekly COVID-19 update.

The Yukon government had said last month the state of emergency would likely end sometime this month, but that matter hadn’t been addressed since.

The end of the state of emergency on Aug. 25 will bring closure to all mandatory health order and regulations.

It will also end all enforcement measures, leaving it to what Mostyn and Premier Sandy Silver called “personal responsibility and judgment” to govern people’s behaviour.

“We are emerging carefully and methodically” from COVID restrictions, Mostyn said.

That was the major news coming out of a curiously muted briefing.

No public health officials were participating following Tuesday’s revelation that Dr. Brendan Hanley is taking a leave of absence from his medical officer of health position as he pursues a chance to be elected as the next Yukon MP (see story, p. 3).

Neither Silver nor Mostyn alluded much to that situation, saying only that public health responsibilities have alway been a team and department effort, rather than a one-person show.

Silver said there are two new COVID cases to report today, with an active case count of 45 people. That number could change later today.

Late Monday afternoon, Hanley had reported nine new cases of COVID-19 dating from last Friday through to Monday.

More than 80 per cent of eligible Yukoners are now fully-vaccinated, Silver said this morning.

“It’s still a tense time for folks.”

Both men said it’s impossible to say whether it would be feasible to bring that daily count down to zero, or whether the virus will limp along in perpetuity in those low numbers.

Mostyn did describe the disease as having become endemic, which means it will not be eradicated.

“The goal is to get to zero,” he said.

He added that coming from a public safety background, it’s good to have such an ultimate goal, but getting there is an arduous process.

The emergency order is due to expire on the 25th, Mostyn explained, and the government has chosen not to renew it, rather than terminate it early.

“Really, the only thing ending is government enforcement,” Mostyn explained.

The government will “adapt as necessary” as circumstances change, he added.

It’s time for the general public to assume control over their own well-being and personal health choices, he added.

That’s been the official government slogan for at least a month now as it has begun dismantling the fortress of public health restrictions.

The public health department has issued more public exposure notices as well.

People may have been exposed to COVID-19 infection if they were at the following locations:

• Kopper King Tavern:

Wednesday, Aug. 4 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 5 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 6 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and

• Casa Loma Lounge:

Thursday, Aug. 5 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.