Whitehorse Daily Star

Image title

Photo by Whitehorse Star

Dr. Brendan Hanley

YG warns of possible COVID exposure here and in Dawson

Two people have tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after they returned home from a trip to the Yukon.

By Whitehorse Star on August 3, 2020

Two people have tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after they returned home from a trip to the Yukon.

The Yukon Communicable Disease Control was notified last Thursday evening by the other jurisdiction involved.

The territorial government notified Yukoners on Friday afternoon.

Dr. Brendan Hanley, the chief medical officer of health, has completed a risk assessment and concluded that the risk to local people is low, the government said in a statement.

“However, he is asking that Dawson City residents or others who may have been in the community between Monday, July 20, and Wednesday, July 22, monitor themselves for symptoms,” the statement said.

“In addition, people who may have been at Integra Tire the morning of Monday, July 20, and Walmart the morning of Thursday, July 23, both in Whitehorse, should monitor themselves for symptoms.”

No specific locations in Dawson City were released as part of the government’s advisory.

Hanley will not publicly identify where in Canada the visitors to the Yukon were tested.

Their positive results has not affected the territory’s progression to phase three of the reopening process this past Saturday.

The symptoms that can occur with COVID-19 are fever, chills, cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, loss of sense of taste or smell, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and muscle aches.

Anyone who develops any of these symptoms regardless of how mild, should self-isolate immediately and arrange for testing.

Testing was available over the past weekend specifically for any people with symptoms and who match the exposure dates above.

People who were in these locations, but have no symptoms, are recommended to self-monitor for 14 days after their exposure.

If they develop symptoms no matter how mild, they should self-isolate immediately and contact 811, complete the self-assessment tool or contact their health care provider.

Comments (12)

Up 4 Down 0

What taxpayers on Aug 9, 2020 at 11:31 am

@Mick, so without opening the economy, who exactly are the taxpayers paying the government salaries? Yes the greed for dollars is what makes real jobs unfortunately.

Up 6 Down 1

Klaus G. on Aug 8, 2020 at 7:33 pm

Dr. Hanley are you aware that B.C. today can no longer be considered a model for Covid19 prevention due to the recent increases? They say it would be very hard to get back to that level. Alberta has got some pretty severe increasing in cases also.

Up 3 Down 4

Lynx on Aug 8, 2020 at 1:48 pm

And yet we have parents protesting to make sure students are jammed in full time at our schools this fall and a bunch of bitter business men with a lawsuit trying to force open our borders to everyone else in the country aside from BC (with significant backing from the Yukon Party). If these two groups are successful with their fight against the government, I fear for our community when the 2nd wave hits. So many people these days seem to have forgotten about the greater good - it's all about 'me me me'.

Up 32 Down 13

Mike on Aug 5, 2020 at 3:02 pm

Gordon of Riverdale
I don't need to imagine where we'd be but I am damn sure we wouldn't be opening our schools and borders to tourists endangering our peoples lives nor would we be entertaining safe drug use sites for junkies nor would we have defaced downtown Whitehorse to the point it is no longer a frontier but just another drug infested crime infested city. Silver should be proud his vision for the Yukon was that of himself and his visionary cohorts to save the where we'd be right now. Silver and this government has dropped the ball on every move. Imagine where we'd be if we had a government who actually cared about us.

Up 8 Down 27

Gordon of Riverdale on Aug 5, 2020 at 10:45 am

Mike on Aug 4, 2020 at 7:43 am

HMMMM - imagine where we'd be if the Pasloski Party were still in power!

Up 16 Down 14

Juniper Jackson on Aug 4, 2020 at 6:15 pm

Not so long ago, we were told, STOP using so much antiseptic wipes. Germs will build up an immunity to them.. just like our bodies building up immunity to antibiotics.. we were told, don't wear face masks, it doesn't do any good. The federal government was so sure they were useless they sent 16 tonnes of personal safety equipment to China, gutting our own supply. Dr. Tam said, and said not once, but many many times, closing the borders won't stop the spread.. masks won't stop the spread, the virus stopped being a corona virus and started being a covid 19. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-dr-tams-about-face-on-masks-damages-trust-at-a-crucial-time/

Now, all the medical personnel have done a complete 360 turn around.. wear a mask, don't have one? Tie an old shirt around your nose and mouth. (Covid needs a liquid vehicle to travel in, so if someone with covid coughs, chances are it won't travel through your mask, you'll get it in your eyes..wet eyes. A total clear plastic head covering then? ) Trudeau never did close the borders, people kept trucking right into Canada from Roxham, 100 planes a day were landing from hot spots, in Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, Calagary. All paid a high price for that. The Yukon borders were not closed. 2000 came in before Jun 1 and 16 people were turned back. Doesn't sound closed to me.

What do I know for sure? That this virus attacks and kills old and impaired lungs. I have always supported protecting our elderly and vulnerable. We should do that if we had covid or not. Even a cold can lead to pneumonia and be the cause of death in a senior.

For myself? I wear a mask if a store owner asks me to. I wash my hands in hot soapy water, I use hand sanitizers sparingly. I keep myself and my clothing clean, my home clean. I keep a distance between me and strangers, always have. I like my pets more than most people. But, the people I love? Friends and family? Come here you.. I do have 1 member who is so terrified, (job well done govvies) that she doesn't leave her home. The rest of the family respect that.

I didn't see any reason for the Liberals here and federally to extend the state of emergency. I don't like that Silver. End it. I also didn't like opening the ice rink at CGC to 10 skaters, that must maintain 'social distancing' and can't play a game. Just open the rink up. I'm also pretty tired of Premier Hanley..

Think twice before insisting Canada shuts down again. Food and toilet paper come from somewhere.

Up 43 Down 9

TheHammer on Aug 4, 2020 at 4:11 pm

We are moving into the arena of everyman for himself when it comes to self protection. There is too much hidden and secret regarding the flow of visitors, where they come from, border crossings, and a published list of just who is allowed in. Americans are still arriving based on a bogus destination to Alaska.
We need a call for access to information.

Up 38 Down 16

Woodcutter on Aug 4, 2020 at 12:45 pm

Before this all the cons were up in arms about closing the economy and it's all a farce. Now the progressives are all up in arms because the cons got their way and now we have exposure to the pox. Can't win liberals if you waffle and try to make everyone happy. Should have stuck to your plan and kept us safe instead of keeping a few wealthy.

Up 45 Down 21

Mike on Aug 4, 2020 at 7:43 am

I have zero faith in our government and have seen no decision made by this government that was for people of the Yukon only greed. 2 cases my butt - the minute you let people flooding through our borders you put every Yukon family at risk all for the sake of a dollar - well done. As for kids going back to school shows you really don't get it but you will when we get hammered by this pandemic.

Up 68 Down 14

Elaine Herman on Aug 3, 2020 at 8:08 pm

"Hanley will not publicly identify where in Canada the visitors to the Yukon were tested." I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting pretty tired of this government telling us we're not allowed to know all the 'secret' information. Hanley has done this one too many times and I'm fed up.

Up 47 Down 8

Jake The Bosun on Aug 3, 2020 at 6:47 pm

I sure don't know where a realistic course is for dealing with this. It appears to be a large number of people are coming to the Yukon because this is the 'safe place' to be, and tourism is allowed. Yes, Licence plates are one obvious indicator of travellers, but I see private aircraft arriving from Alberta, and the crews seem exempt. And I see locals flying to Anchorage and back, and then on to Idaho for vacation, so it's a two way street. Everywhere there is a loop-hole it seems someones is willing to exploit it.
How can you be compassionate and objective while safe-guarding your self and your loved ones? If we all can't come to terms with our legal rights vs our moral rights then pandemics are going to change both.

Up 38 Down 33

Mick on Aug 3, 2020 at 5:28 pm

It's probably rampant all through the Yukon because our useless government has opened the doors to make money with ZERO consideration for the taxpayers that pay their wages. This comes as no surprise to people with a brain not motivated by greed.

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.