The Yukon’s minister of Health and Social Services says the public’s behaviour has to change if the territory is to defeat the current massive outbreak of COVID-19.

While the government isn’t prepared to bring in any new measures to fight the spread of the virus, Tracy-Anne McPhee attributes much of the burgeoning numbers to people still not taking the proper precautions – in effect, not taking the situation seriously enough.

“Much of what we said last week we will say again,” McPhee said at this morning’s weekly briefing. “This has to stop. We need to adjust our behaviour.

“A runny nose, a cough, are all symptoms,” she added. “You should be tested.”

Both McPhee and the chief medical officer of health, Dr. Brendan Hanley, said more spread is being seen in the community, particularly Whitehorse, at workplaces.

People are going to work while they are displaying symptoms, they said, and that has to stop.

“Staying home when you’re not feeling well is stressful,” McPhee said.

She noted that government programs, such as the 10-day paid leave for those who don’t have regular sick leave, are still available.

“We have repeatedly seen people go to work while they are sick,” Hanley said. “It can be avoided.”

Hanley said public health is still seeing a consistent number of cases every day, indicating the Yukon is nowhere near over the battle with the outbreak.

Between 10 and 20 cases a day are currently being seen, although it’s a struggle to put out accurate numbers on a daily basis,” he noted. That’s why the case count numbers are fluctuating regularly.

“If we hunker down, and follow all the recommendations, we could see a change in one to weeks,” he said.

If not, the outbreak will continue to drag on for weeks or months.

The official case count he announced this morning was 146 active cases.

Health officials are seeing many cases from secondary contacts right now. In many cases, these people haven’t been aware they’ve been exposed to COVID-19.

Seven people have been medevaced to the south. Six of them remain out of territory.

There have been no deaths amongst vaccinated patients – although approximately 10 to 12 per cent of cases involve fully vaccinated people.

“This COVID does not leave much room for error,” Hanley said.

“It’s tearing its way through unvaccinated people.”

There are approximately 10,000 people in the Yukon who remain unvaccinated, including children under 12 years of age, Hanley said.

That’s enough of a reservoir for the virus to potentially continue its rampage for some time – weeks or even months.

“People are catching it without warning,” Hanley said. “The exact number out there is hard to recognize. There’s a lot of disease out there.

“You need to assume you have the virus, and that other people do. It’s taking a heavy toll on the Yukon.”

Hanley said he doubts the territory is past peak infection yet.

However, the government has no plans to institute more of a lockdown. Hanley thinks shutting down businesses, especially retail, wouldn’t accomplish anything at this point.

“Lockdown measures would not make a difference.”

The “urban network” is currently the problem, Hanley said.

That’s the term he’s using for how the virus is being transmitted.

It’s mostly urban, or city-driven, and is passing through social bubbles and close contact amongst people in close quarters.

Hanley said the situation amongst Whitehorse daycares is easing.

“It’s levelled off in the last few days.”

In Whitehorse, the Kwanlin Dun First Nation has announced that 17 KDFN citizens currently have active cases of COVID-19.

Ross River, with a handful of cases, is encouraging everyone to stay away from the community.

It’s also encouraging its citizens to remain in the community, and follow the health measures the government is promoting.

Earlier this week, Hanley had reported 40 new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 detected between noon last Friday and noon Monday as the outbreak continued.

According to a news release, for the new cases since noon last Friday, 27 were in Whitehorse, with seven cases in rural communities. Six were pending confirmation.

One hundred and ninety-nine individuals in the most recent outbreak have recovered from the virus.

There have been five deaths of Yukoners since November 2020.

The latest figures bring the active case count to 149.

The Yukon’s total case count since March 22, 2020 is 425.

There have been 351 cases since June 1, 2021, including out-of-territory residents diagnosed in the territory and probable cases.

Potential exposure notification letters have gone to parents and staff of the preschool, after-school and kindergarten groups at Grow with Joy Childcare, Days Inn location, for those attending it from June 23 to June 30.

Direction from Yukon Communicable Disease Control (YCDC) is different based on days attended.

YCDC has provided specific direction to those affected. All other information is provided by the daycare operator to parents and staff, based on advice from YCDC.