Canada’s Yukon territory lifts COVID-19 public health emergency declaration

Canada’s Yukon territory lifted its COVID-19 public health emergency declaration on Monday after almost three years.

The territory’s health minister said the government will continue to monitor the disease, but that the current health situation allows authorities to manage COVID-19 without emergency measures.

“While the lifting of the public health emergency is another step to managing COVID-19 like other communicable diseases, COVID-19 remains a public health concern that we will continue to monitor closely to ensure we are addressing the needs of our communities,” said Tracy-Anne McPhee, Yukon’s minister of Health and Social Services, in a statement on Monday.

The public health emergency for COVID-19 was declared on March 18, 2020.

Yukon authorities are calling on Yukoners to stay up-to-date on vaccinations as well as staying home when feeling sick. 

Routine communicable disease procedures can manage COVID-19, says chief medical officer 

“With good protection against severe outcomes through immunization, the ongoing circulation of COVID-19 can be managed with other respiratory viruses using routine communicable disease procedures,” Sudit Ranade, Yukon’s chief medical officer of health.

“I strongly encourage anyone, especially adults, who remain unvaccinated to consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself from severe outcomes of the virus.”

The government says public health measures and isolation periods may continue in places like health centres, hospitals or long-term care homes as required.

Yukon has a population of approximately 36,000 people and is Canada’s northernmost territory.

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca 

Related stories from around the North: 

Canada: Election Spotlight—Health Care in Nunavik, Eye on the Arctic

Greenland: Greenland to reduce services amidst staffing shortages in health care system, Eye on the Arctic