KDFN COVID-19 Updates

• Find the most up-to-date case counts and COVID-19 guidance for Yukon at yukon.ca
• Questions? Phone KDFN’s dedicated COVID-19 and vaccination line at 867-335-5051

Updated: Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Updated: Tuesday, August 31, 2021

• 1 KDFN Citizen with COVID-19
• 21 active cases in the Yukon

Over the weekend, Yukon’s first COVID-19 case in a long-term care facility was reported in Copper Ridge Place.

Yukon’s vaccination rates

• 83% of Yukoners 18+ are fully vaccinated (2 shots)
• 71% of Yukoners aged 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated (2 shots)

The CMOH says we need to get to 90 – 95% of the total population

What about children under 12?

Children under 12 cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19. The best way to protect them is for all the adults in their life to get vaccinated.

At KDFN:

• KDFN’s Natsékhi Kų̀ Health Centre is offering rapid COVID-19 testing.
• Offices are closed to the public without an appointment.
• Masks must be worn in all KDFN buildings and workplaces.

Updated: Friday, August 27, 2021

Updated: Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Updated: Tuesday, August 24

Public exposure notification issued by the Government of Yukon

People may have been exposed to COVID-19 infection if they were on the following flight:

• Saturday, August 21, 2021
  • Air North 4N702
  • Edmonton to Whitehorse
  • Departure: 10:05 a.m., arrival: 1:25 p.m.

This is a low-risk public notice. Anyone who was on this flight is asked to self-monitor for 14 days, through September 4. If symptoms appear, self-isolate, remain at home and arrange to get tested either by calling 867-393-3083 or booking a test online. Rural Yukon residents should contact their community health centre to arrange for testing.

Anyone on this flight who is not fully vaccinated should especially self-monitor for symptoms.

Updated: August 20, 2021

• 3 KDFN Citizens have active cases of COVID-19
• There are 50 total active cases currently in the Yukon
• 2 of these cases are the Delta variant (one is in hospital)
• There are no exposure notifications associated with these cases in the Yukon

YG just release a new COVID-19 document outlining its COVID-19 response: Forging Ahead: The Yukon’s Continuing Response to COVID-19 – document

What’s happening in the rest of Canada?

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says:

• a Fourth Wave of COVID-19 is underway in Canada
• it is driven by the Delta variant
• the majority of cases are in 20-39 year old age group
• The best protection against getting severely ill with COVID-19 is vaccination and following the Safe 6 + 1.

What’s happening at KDFN?

• Offices remain closed to the public without an appointment
• Masks are mandatory in KDFN buildings and workplaces
• KDFN is working to figure out how we can best move forward to host events, bring back and offer programs and deliver services safely.
• Ask your supervisor if you have questions about KDFN regulations

Do you have health questions?

• Phone KDFN’s COVID-19 line weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 867-334-5051
• Phone Yukon’s health line anytime at 811

Updated: August 5, 2021

COVID-19 case numbers:

• Current active KDFN Citizen cases: 6
• Total KDFN Citizen cases since June 1: 74
• Current active cases in Yukon: 53

Case counts are falling (yay!) and Yukon’s CMOH says we’re on the “long tail” of the outbreak.

But, if vaccination rates do not increase to 90%+ we have to be ready for “more significant outbreaks” as new variants, such as the Delta, come into the Yukon.

Get Tested: If you feel sick or have lost your sense of taste or smell, get tested. Call Natsékhi Kų̀ COVID info line at 867-335-5051 to book a test.

Vaccination Rates:

• 81% of Yukoners 18+ are fully vaccinated
• 64% of Yukoners 12-17 are fully vaccinated

Vaccine appointments: https://yukon.ca/en/appointments or phone 1-877-374-0425

Here at KDFN:

• Masking protocols are still in effect (Read the protocol here.)
• Offices remain closed to the public unless by appointment
• Continue to follow the Safe 6 + 1
• For health questions call Natsékhi Kų̀ COVID info line at 867-335-5051 during work hours or Yukon’s health info line at 811 anytime
• If you have questions about KDFN protocols or policies, please ask your supervisor.

Updated: Thursday, July 15, 2021

Updated: Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Updated: Monday, June 28, 2021

Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has advised:

• 6 KDFN citizens have active cases of COVID-19.
• A total of 14 citizens have tested positive since the outbreak began. Since then, 8 have recovered.

We encourage everyone to do what they can to keep themselves and the people around them safe.

• Get vaccinated as this virus is spreading through unvaccinated people. (1-877-374-0425 or https://yukon.ca/this-is-our-shot)
• Follow the Safe 6 + 1.
• Self-isolate and get a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms (phone 867-668-7289).

And remember to reach out for help if you need it. KDFN’s Natsékhi Kų̀ Health Centre is there to answer questions or offer support to Citizens at 867-668-7289.

Updated: Friday, June 25, 2021

A message from Chief Doris Bill

A message from Chief Doris Bill as we continue to move through the COVID-19 outbreak in Whitehorse: It’s time to step up and do your part to keep the community safe! See the full text.

Updated Thursday, June 24, 2021:

Updated Wednesday, June 16, 2021:

Chief Bill’s Message to citizens about the COVID-19 outbreak. See full text.

KDFN COVID-19 Precautions – Updated June 15, 2021

On Sunday, June 13, the Yukon government’s Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak in Whitehorse.

KDFN has updated its COVID-19 precautions appropriately. Click here for the current (as of June 15) pandemic guidelines for Citizens, staff and the KDFN government.

KDFN Council’s Emergency COVID-19 Directive #1 remains in place

On Tuesday, May 25, the Yukon government lifted the 14-day self-isolation requirement for fully-vaccinated Canadians coming into Yukon.

We remind everyone that the KDFN Council COVID-19 Emergency Directive is still in place over and above any decisions made by the Yukon government or the federal government.

This means you may not enter a KDFN workplace for 14 days:

• after travelling outside Yukon (with a few exceptions); or
• after having contact with a person who has travelled outside Yukon.

So, if you’re sharing a household with a person who has travelled outside Yukon or if you have visitors from outside Yukon, you must follow these guidelines:

• If there is a separate bathroom, cooking facilities and enough space to physical distance, then only the person who travelled must not enter KDFN buildings for 14 days.
• If there is a shared bathroom and cooking facilities, then EVERYONE in the household must not enter KDFN buildings for 14 days.

KDFN Council plans to revisit this directive in mid-June to decide how to proceed.

We thank all staff for their continued work in following the Safe 6 + 1, following all KDFN policies and directives, and helping to keep our community safe.

You can see the full directive for specific requirements here.

Joint Statement by Kwanlin Dün First Nation Chief Doris Bill and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council Chief Kristina Kane

April 12, 2021

Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council confirm our full support of the Yukon Chief Medical Officer of Health’s mandate to keep Yukon’s border restrictions and self-isolation rules actively in place.

As COVID-19 variants are spreading quickly in other parts of Canada, our governments are concerned about increasing pressure on the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) and Government of Yukon to ease restrictions and open our borders.

Evidence has shown that Indigenous people are one of the most vulnerable populations when it comes to COVID-19 infection and our Yukon First Nations could be greatly impacted if this virus is allowed to spread.

Some COVID-19 variants—such as P.1, first identified in Brazil, and B.1.1.7, first identified in the UK—have shown themselves to be more easily transmitted and more dangerous, especially to younger people.

Yukon has done well rolling out the vaccine, but we have yet to reach herd immunity levels and too little is known about how immunization will protect against this new P.1 variant.

We know Yukon’s health care infrastructure remains limited, with just 15 ventilators in the territory, and we realize there is a risk of overburdening our system. Other jurisdictions, such as BC, may not be able to help if they are dealing with their own cases. An influx of medical transfers from the Yukon may be too much for them to accommodate.

We all must work together to act in the best interest of public health. That means continuing to follow the Safe 6 + 1 protocols and to enforce the Civil Emergency Measures Act.

Shä̀w níthän, Gùnáłchîsh, Mähsi’cho, Thank you,

Chief Bill

“We will continue to stand by Yukoners, who have all worked very hard to keep our Territory safe. Because of this hard work, we’ve had a relatively low number of COVID-19 cases in Yukon. Now is not the time to open the Territory up to the Third Wave of COVID variants, which has the potential to be the deadliest part of the pandemic. We too look forward to the day when we can be together and hug our friends and family members. In the meantime, let’s keep supporting our local businesses, our essential workers, our Elders, our children, and each other.”

Chief Kane:

“Both Ta’an Kwäch’än Council and Kwanlin Dün First Nation see first-hand the impacts this pandemic has had on our communities. There is no doubt this virus has taken its toll on our economy and our well being, and we would like nothing more than to have everything return to normal. But we cannot ignore the science or the trends before us. We respect the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s decision to continue the restrictions at Yukon borders. It is because of these restrictions we have been able to protect our families, our neighbours, and our communities. We understand the frustrations many feel, but we need to continue to follow these guidelines. We encourage all Whitehorse residents and our neighbours to do the same.”

Do you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine? We have answers!

Updated: February 22, 2021

Yukon will have enough doses of the Moderna vaccine to immunize 75% of adult Yukoners. Here’s what you need to know:

How do you get the vaccine?

You must make an appointment to get vaccinated. Do this:

• Online at yukon.ca/this-is-our-shot
• By calling 1-877-374-0425

You must wait until your age slot opens in order to book your appointment.

What happens if you choose to not get the Moderna vaccine?

• At present, it’s not clear what the repercussions would be.
• It may mean that you would not be able to travel to certain places or you might have to wear a mask for a longer period of time than those who are vaccinated.
• Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is involved in conversations with experts across Canada and around the world on this subject right now.

How does the vaccine work?

• It works by teaching our bodies to make antibodies for the COVID-19 virus. These antibodies help us fight the infection if the real virus does enter our body in the future.
• Specifically, it uses mRNA to instruct our cells to make a response to the “spike protein” that is found on COVID-19. mRNA technology has been used in vaccine development for more than 20 years. mRNA does not affect our own genetic DNA.
• The COVID-19 virus is not in the vaccine, so the vaccine cannot give you COVID-19.

How is the vaccine given?

• The vaccine is given by an injection into the muscle of the arm.
• You need to get 2 doses about 28 days apart.

How has the vaccine been developed and tested?

• Many scientists all over the world worked together to create this vaccine.
• Health Canada has approved the vaccine based on rigorous tests. They have made sure the Moderna vaccine is as safe, and as well tested as any other vaccine currently used.
• Thousands of people who took the vaccine in trials were monitored for at least two months after for possible side effects.
• Health Canada will continue to review all the available safety data as it becomes available.

Why should you get the vaccine?

• In order for the vaccine to work we need the majority of Yukoners – at least 75 percent – to take it. This is called “herd immunity”.
• So, by taking the vaccine you are not only protecting yourself, you’re also protecting your family and your community.

Who should NOT get the vaccine?

• People with any symptoms that could be due to COVID-19 should not go out to get vaccinated because they could spread the infection to others.

• People under 18.
• People who are allergic to polyethylene glycol (PEG)
• People who have had any other vaccine in the previous 14 days

If you are unsure whether you should get the vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider.

What are the side effects of taking the Moderna vaccine?

Studies show side effects are generally mild. These could include one or more of the following:

• pain, redness or swelling where the needle was given
• tiredness
• headache
• muscle pain
• joint pain
• nausea / vomiting
• chills
• fever
• enlarged lymph nodes (swollen glands) in the underarm

All of these symptoms are normal after any vaccine, and they are part of the body’s normal response in building immunity.

Allergic reactions can rarely occur after receiving a vaccine. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include hives (bumps on the skin that are often very itchy), swelling of your face, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing.

Clinic staff are prepared to manage an allergic reaction should it occur. This reaction would happen within minutes of getting a vaccine, which is why you are always asked to wait 15 minutes after any vaccine.

What do you do after you get your vaccine?

• You must continue to follow the Safe Six + 1 until the Chief Medical Officer of Health advises otherwise.
• Do not receive any other vaccines until you have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccines and at least 28 days have passed after you receive your second dose.
• Keep your Moderna Vaccine record in a safe place to be able to refer to it when needed for your second dose.

About COVID-19:

COVID-19 is not the flu, and the yearly flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19

COVID-19 is a virus that is passed through:

• droplets generated by coughing, sneezing, close talking or yelling.
• personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands.

You can also get it by touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

Of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Canada:

• about 1 in 13 (7%) require hospitalization,
• about 3 in 100 (3%) die.

Even people with mild symptoms may feel unwell for a long time after a COVID-19 infection.

Symptoms of COVID-19

• fever/chills;
• cough;
• shortness of breath;
• runny nose;
• sore throat;
• headache;
• loss of sense of taste
• or smell;
• headache;
• fatigue;
• loss of appetite;
• nausea and vomiting;
• diarrhea; and
• muscle aches.

What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms

1) Stay home and self-isolate.

2) Use the self-assessment tool at yukon.ca, if possible.

3) Phone the Natsékhi Kų̀ Health Centre at (867) 668-7289, or after hours phone the Yukon line at 811 or (867) 393-3083.

4) Follow the advice you’re given.

This information is from staff at the Natsékhi Kų̀ Health Centre, Health Canada, and the Government of Yukon. If you have more questions about the vaccine you can call Natsékhi Kų̀ at (867) 668-7289.

KDFN’s Pandemic Plan

Updated Dec 11, 2020

This document will change as guidance from Council and Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health changes. See the document

KDFN Council Directive on Entering KDFN Buildings or Workplaces after travelling

Updated November 20, 2020

On November 18, Kwanlin Dün Council exercised its powers under its self-government agreement to put an emergency directive in place to keep KDFN Citizens and Staff safe.

These measures are in addition to and apart from any restrictions imposed by the Yukon Government.

You may not enter a KDFN workplace for 14 days:

• after travelling outside Yukon; or
• after having contact with a person who has travelled outside Yukon.

This means, if you’re sharing a household with other people who have travelled outside Yukon or if you have visitors from outside the Yukon, you must follow these guidelines:

• If there is a separate bathroom, cooking facilities and enough space to physical distance, then only the person who travelled must self-isolate and not enter KDFN buildings for 14 days.
• If there is a shared bathroom and cooking facilities, then EVERYONE in the household must self-isolate and not enter KDFN buildings for 14 days.

Please see the entire directive. These measures will be in place for 90 days or until rescinded by Kwanlin Dün Council.

If you have questions about this new regulation:

Call: 867- 867-633-7800 ext. 112
Email: Communications@kdfn.net

As we move through this pandemic, there may be additional directives issued or changes to existing protocols and procedures. Please ensure you are reading these as they come up and keeping up to date. Let’s keep ourselves, our families and our community safe.

KDFN Government Mask Protocol, Updated November 20, 2020

Yukon Government Self-Isolation Requirements, Updated November 19, 2020

As of November 20, 2020, EVERYONE other than critical services workers entering Yukon will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. Non-essential travel is not recommended.

All Kwanlin Dün office doors are locked and closed to the public. KDFN government operations continue during regular business hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Protocols are in place to ensure appropriate physical distancing among staff, citizens and clients.

Wherever possible, staff are working from home with phones call-forwarded. If you know the person or department you are trying to reach, please use the KDFN staff directory to find their contact information.

If you’re not sure what number to call, call the KDFN main phone 867-633-7800 ext. 0.

Learn about KDFN service delivery throughout the COVID-19 (coronavirus) global pandemic

Departmental contacts and updates

Administration: 867-633-7800 ext. 0

• All cheques will be mailed
• Mail can be dropped off in the mailbox beside the door

Community Services:  867-633-7833 ext. 0

• Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Closed at lunch hour.
• Garbage pick-up, chimney cleaners, snow removal and water delivery services continue on regular schedule.
• All April 2020 rent payments for KDFN housing are waived (free). March 27 Order in Council – COVID-19 April Relief Measures

Education:  867-633-8422 ext. 0

• For employment, training or education help, staff are available by phone, email or internet appointments. Please call 867-633-8422 ext. 501
• Kenädän Kų̀ House of Learning is closed to the public without an appointment.
• The after school tutoring program has been postponed until further notice
• School COVID-19 Guidance for children under 6
• Updated guidance on staying home when sick

Income Support / Pathways (SA): 867-633-8422 ext. 0

• All Income Support / SA benefit cheques are being mailed. To update your mailing address, call 867-633-8422 ext. 0
• Income Support / SA applications and blank Client Report Cards (CRC) are available outside the front door of the House of Learning
• There is a secure mail box ready to accept your recent Atco bills, wood receipts and pay stubs
• If you have questions about your Income Support Benefits Services, phone 867-633-8422 ext. 0 and ask to talk to your Income Support Worker
• Counselling and crisis support – Government of Yukon

Finance/ Human Resources:  867-633-7800 ext. 0

• All regular finance operations continue
• All cheques will be mailed
• Job interviews continuing via either phone or video chat

Health:  867-668-7289

• To speak with a nurse, call 867-333-9550
• Natsékhi Kų̀ Health Centre Services Reduction Plan
• Coronvirus Information
• Non-insured Health Benefits Navigator: 867-334-5656
• Mental wellness or substance use counselling (Monday to Friday) : 867-456-3838
• Information about face masks

Heritage, Lands & Resources

• Most staff are working from home. Please contact who you need directly via email. Staff directory
• Land Stewards are assisting Community Safety Officers with community patrols: 867-332-9551

Justice:  867-334-1803

• Interim protocol during pandemic
• Community Safety Officers remain on patrol: 867-332-9551 **this is not a 24-hour phone line**
• KDFN Child & Family Liaison (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.): 867-334-1803
• YG Child and Family Services team available by phone: 867-667-3002 **24-hour phone line**
• Youth Recreation programming cancelled until further notice
• RCMP non-emergency: 867-667-5555

Government of Canada Information

• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
• Canada’s Covid-19 Measures to Help Canadians
• COVID-19 Outreach Resource Links
• Government of Canada information about coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Information about physical distancing
• Information about self-isolation
• Public Health Agency of Canada Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
• Service Canada Resources
• Stricter rules in place for travelers transiting through Canada to Alaska

Government of Yukon Information

• Counselling and crisis support – Government of Yukon
• Guidelines for Contact Sports
• Information about travel
• Information for public school students and families
• New symptom criteria for staying home from school and daycares
• Summary of Yukon’s plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions
• Yukon government information about Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Yukon extends state of emergency

Other Helpful Resources

• CYFN information on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• First People’s Wellness Circle information on mental health during COVID-19 for community,parents and children,health professionals, and Elders and seniors.

As we adapt to the rapidly changing situation presented by COVID-19, our primary concern is protecting the health of citizens, clients and staff while also doing our best to offer essential services.