The Yukon government will be extending the business relief program, the premier announced Wednesday.

“The preservation of our local economy remains at the forefront of our minds as we continue to take the necessary steps to ensure public health and safety,” said Premier Sandy Silver.

More details on the extension will be available once Ranj Pillai, the minister of Economic Development, returns from a community tour, Silver said.

Silver provided a brief COVID-19 update Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Brendan Hanley, the chief medical officer, was not present.

The premier conceded that the beginning of the school year has presented challenges since the first day of classes in Whitehorse on Aug. 19.

“For many Yukon families, the start of the school year brought with it more hurdles as seasonally expected colds require more children and parents to stay at home,” Silver said.

“This causes a ripple effect, as parents and caregivers also stay home to care for children.”

Silver encouraged businesses that are seeing more staff absences to access the paid sick leave rebate, which is available until March 2021.

The premier said his government has now committed more than $40 million in COVID-19 support so far.

Silver couldn’t provide an official update to plans for the recently announced $4 million in federal funding for schools.

“During the course of the pandemic, we have definitely reassigned funding focused on key priorities,” Silver said.

“With this extra support from the government of Canada … we will be able to offset those costs.”

Yukon University’s Whitehorse campus closed earlier this week after two students moved into campus housing without self-isolating after entering the territory.

Silver said charges haven’t yet been laid for violating the self-isolation rule.

“I know that the enforcement team is investigating the incident right now, and we take this very seriously,” Silver said.

The government has now received 726 COVID-19-related complaints, 401 of which concerned individuals failing to self-isolate.

Six charges have been laid under the Civil Emergency Measures Act.

A total of 40,070 travellers have entered the Yukon since border restrictions came into play – 16,673 people transiting through; 8,562 non-residents staying in the territory; 7,710 Yukon residents; and 6,375 B.C. residents.

A government press release issued Wednesday reminded Yukoners to check federal rules for re-entering Canada before crossing the border station at Fraser or Beaver Creek.

“If you cross into Alaska, you will be subject to these federal rules, which include a mandatory 14-day quarantine,” the press release stated.

“These rules apply equally at all official border crossings … across Canada.”

Whitehorse’s respiratory assessment centre tested 109 people between Aug. 26 and Sept. 1. The Yukon has tested 2,643 people for COVID-19 to date.

The territory’s community wellbeing survey is open until the coming Sunday. Silver encouraged Yukoners to fill out the survey, which will inform future programming and support.

“This is a chance to hear directly from Yukoners about how things are going during these challenging times and what we, as a government, can do to improve the well-being right across the territory,” Silver said.