Yukon to ease COVID-19 restrictions starting March 4: premier

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This article was published 24/02/2022 (1683 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WHITEHORSE – Yukon’s premier says the territory is set to move ahead with plans to ease many COVID-19 restrictions starting next week.

Sandy Silver says capacity limits on gatherings will be lifted, and bars and restaurants can return to normal service with dancing and mingling between tables on March 4.

He told a news conference Thursday that masks will still be required in indoor public places and proof of vaccination must still be shown to access certain settings.

Acting chief medical officer of health Dr. Catherine Elliott says masks are an effective way to reduce transmission and vaccines help prevent severe illness, while officials are continuously evaluating the need for those remaining measures.

She says Yukon’s COVID-19 case activity has been declining, with 47 active infections in the territory on Thursday, but some transmission is still happening so those who feel sick need to stay away from others.

Elliott says it’s still important to look out for each other and everyone should assess their own risk as restrictions are lifted and people begin to gather in larger numbers.

She says that means people should consider factors such as case activity, vaccination status, the type of space and ventilation and the number of people attending a gathering.

Silver added that the strain on Yukon’s health-care system caused by the Omicron wave of COVID-19 has been easing and services are returning to more normal levels.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2022.