2 more COVID-19 cases in Watson Lake, Yukon

Yukon's chief medical officer says two more COVID-19 cases wereconfirmed in Watson Lake, Yukon, this weekend, for a total of five cases associated with an outbreak in the community.

The new cases were confirmed late Sunday night after several people were tested this weekend,Dr. Brendan Hanley told CBC's Yukon Morning.

The new infections are from the same household and the patients are self-isolating and doing well at home, Hanleysaid.

On Friday, Hanley first reportedthree cases in Watson Lake involving people who had not travelled outside the territory.

Hanleysaid the two new patients were in one of thepotential exposure sites he identified on Friday.

He said he does not yet know the original source of the outbreak.

"I suspect there was contact with someone coming in to Yukon," he said, noting that Watson Lake is a border town and one of the exposure locations was a motel.

"It's quite possible that there was a contact"with someone from outside the community with COVID-19, he said.

'Looking like a containable scenario'

Hanley told CBC's Yukon Morningthat the new cases do not yet mean there is community spread. Given that many people tested negative this weekend, he said,"this is looking like a containable scenario."

Hanley said the investigation is ongoing and more cases may be identified.

On Friday,Hanleyasked anyone whowas at the following locations andhas symptoms to call the Watson Lake hospital if they live in town, or the healthcentre in their own community,to arrange for testing:

• Watson Lake Foods Super A on Oct.8 and Oct.16.
• Home Hardware on Oct.7 and Oct.10.
• Big Horn Motel on Oct.7 through 9 and Oct.13 through 16

If people arenotsure of when they were in these locations, Hanley said they should monitor themselves for symptoms.

The Liard First Nation office wasclosed Monday. Chief Stephen Charlie said staff members were cleaning high-contact areas.

"We're just being cautious," Charlie told CBC's Midday Cafe.

"I really appreciate the membership being really calm about this."

Watson Lake MayorChris Irvin also said residents are handling news of the outbreak well.

Hesaid activity was slower around townon Monday.

Yukon has now reported a total of 22cases since the pandemic began, with 15 people recovered.

The cases in Watson Lake are thefirst rural outbreak Yukon has experienced.

"This is another wake-up call," said Hanley.

He said all Yukonersshould ensure they are following COVID-19 precautions at work and during gatherings.

Hanleysaid he is not reconsidering closing the border with B.C.

"Opening the border to B.C. was a calculated risk," said Hanley.

"Even withthese recent cases, we cannot attribute a single Yukon case to an opening with B.C."