WHITEHORSE — The Yukon is rescinding its public health COVID-19 emergency declaration nearly three years after it was enacted to slow the spread of the global pandemic in the territory.
WHITEHORSE — The Yukon is rescinding its public health COVID-19 emergency declaration nearly three years after it was enacted to slow the spread of the global pandemic in the territory.
In a statement, the Yukon government said it accepted the recommendation of its chief medical officer and lifted the declaration imposed under the Public Health and Safety Act.
The statement said the decision is “another step the Yukon is taking to manage COVID-19 in a more sustainable way” while keeping everyone in the territory healthy.
Although the state of emergency is ending, the statement said Yukoners should continue to take steps to stay healthy, including keeping vaccinations up to date and staying home if they feel sick.
Health and Human Services Minister Tracey-Ann McPhee says the change will mean managing COVID-19 like other infectious diseases, but the virus remains a public health issue that officials will monitor closely.
The public health emergency was declared in the Yukon on March 18, 2020, as cases of COVID-19 rose in Canada, and the statement said the lifting of the order was in line with actions by other provinces and territories.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on January 16, 2023.
The Canadian Press
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