The Yukon government’s public health staff are remaining quiet on figures indicating the territory has not used any of the rapid testing kits – supplied by the federal government – that are supposed to be available to the public.

According to federal figures, the Yukon has received more than 35,000 kits intended for public distribution.

As in many other jurisdictions, the kits have not been handed out.

The Northwest Territories, meanwhile, has used 20,390 tests.

When contacted by the Star last week, a spokesperson for Dr. Catherine Elliott, the Yukon’s acting chief medical officer of health, said the request was being passed on to the appropriate people.

No further information had been received as of press time this afternoon.

Elliott has said a number of times during COVID-19 briefings that she is not a fan of the rapid tests. She has said she doesn’t consider them as reliable as the standard test.

In the last few weeks, the Yukon government has said it does make rapid testing available to some public employees and situations, such as in education settings.

The Yukon Party, as the official Opposition, however, did have something to say.

“The Liberals are once again failing to communicate with Yukoners about what they are doing and why they are doing it,” the party said in a statement.

“If they have used the rapid tests, then why haven’t they communicated this to the federal government or to Yukoners?

“And if they haven’t used the rapid tests, then why are they not following the advice and guidance of public health experts at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada?” the Yukon Party asked.

A report from Global News indicated approximately 80 million of the kits have been purchased by the federal government to be used nationally.

“Health Canada data shows the federal government has sent nearly 80 million rapid antigen tests to the provinces and territories, but just over 14.7 million were used as of Nov. 26,” the Global report states.

“Medical experts across the country have been calling on health officials to make the tests more accessible by making them free of charge, and more easily found at places like grocery checkouts — even gas stations.”

The Yukon has received 35,848 tests, Global says.

The territory is the only jurisdiction in Canada that is filing information reporting zero use of the tests.

Nunavut is listed as not participating, so no numbers are available. Manitoba is also not providing numbers.

“This just highlights the concerns as to why we’re not using the rapid tests, and most jurisdictions are,” NDP Leader Kate White told the Star early this afternoon

“I think it’s a matter of communication from the government. We had an inkling this was the case, which is why we were asking about it. We didn’t have those numbers though.”

White wouldn’t hazard a guess as to whether the lack of access to the tests could be attributed to Elliott’s reservations about them.

“That’s a hard-hitting question, and I don’t know the answer,” White said.

“But with all the sacrifices we’ve asked people to make, staying away from jobs, etc., we owe it to people to give them every resource we can.

“If the science is good enough elsewhere to use them, what science are we following here?” she asked.