September 10 COVID-19 Update

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Current COVID-19 Situation in Ross River

Ross River Dena Council advises all community members that as of 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 10, 2021 the number of active cases in Ross River is down to two. There have been no new cases since last Saturday. Both individuals are currently self-isolating in Ross River.

Overall, the situation continues to improve, a strong indication that community safety measures are working and that community members have been taking COVID-19 seriously.

That said, there are still active cases in the community, which means the COVID-19 Risk Level remains at Level 5 (Extreme Risk) this weekend, however if no new cases arise in the coming days, Ross River could reach zero active cases by early next week. 

This would result in a lower COVID-19 Risk Level – either Level 4 (High Risk) or Level 3 (Medium Risk) – as early as Tuesday, if all goes well.

At Level 4, the most noticeable difference will be at the Dena General Store which can allow six customers enter the store at one time, while banking and post office services will still be available at the front door. Also at Level 4, the store will resume its normal business hours and will once again be open from Monday-Saturday. 

For those who may be uncomfortable entering the store, delivery and pick-up options will still be available as a value-added service. Call (867) 969-2280 or email to dena.general@northwestel.net to place your order. 

Level 3 (Medium Risk) may soon be on the horizon as well. Once the risk level reaches Level 3, this means RRDC buildings would be open to the public by appointment only. Level 3 would also mean it is no longer necessary to operate the COVID-19 Safety Stop, which was in place to provide outreach and collect important visitor information during periods of high and/or extreme risk.

At Level 2 (Low Risk), the store will be fully opened, and RRDC buildings will once again be open to the public. Reaching Level 1 (New Normal) means there are no longer any active cases in the Yukon and the risk to the community is very, very low.

For more information about the COVID-19 Risk Levels and what they mean, please visit our new COVID-19 Dashboard section. This is a helpful new tool dedicated to providing important case count and vaccination information with community members. This page also includes information about the safety measures introduced by Council this summer to help help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Ross River.

Please Continue to Take Precautions This Weekend

Council acknowledges that while we are definitely on the right path, cases of COVID-19 are on the rise across Canada and there is still a chance that COVID-19 will return to the community in the coming weeks and months.

With this in mind, Council asks that community members please continue to monitor for symptoms and to take precautions while in Ross River:

  • Wear a mask
  • Wash your hands
  • Stay at least six feet apart 
  • Do not participate in gatherings
  • Do not visit with others
  • Self-isolate after travel if unvaccinated
  • Stay home if you are sick

Guidance on Living with COVID-19

To learn more about how to live with COVID-19, the Government of Yukon has created a new “Living with COVID-19” page that contains important messages to help guide Yukoners on the way forward. To visit this helpful page, click here.

If You Are Sick, Stay Home and Stay Safe!

If you or someone you know has a minor cough or perhaps feels a little sick, this may or may not be COVID-19, but Council asks that you please take it very seriously – even if you are fully vaccinated. 

Symptoms can include:

  • Fever/chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Loss of sense of taste or smell
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Muscle aches

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms please direct them to self-isolate immediately and contact the Health Centre at 969-4444 to arrange for a COVID-19 test. 

Above all, if you are not feeling well, please do not go to work. Be respectful of others by staying home and staying safe!

Youth Vaccination Clinic on Monday

A vaccination clinic for Youth (Ages 12-17) will be held at the Ross River Health Centre on Monday, September 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

If you have any questions about the Pfizer vaccine or would like assistance with booking an appointment please contact the Health Centre at 969-4444. 

For community members who are unvaccinated, please note that the vaccine is still considered to be the best way to protect yourself and your family against COVID-19. At this time, 51% of Ross River community members are fully vaccinated and 63% have received their first dose. 

Current Risk Level 5 (Extreme)  

As of September 10, 2021 there are two active cases of COVID-19 in Ross River and approximately 51% of our population is fully vaccinated. The risk of transmission is very high. As a result, the current COVID-19 Risk Level for Ross River remains at Level 5 (Extreme). The following COVID-19 safety measures remain in effect: 

  • The Dena General Store will now be closed on Sundays and Tuesdays for cleaning and store management advises that new safety measures will be in place to support pick-up and delivery services, depending on the COVID-19 situation in Ross River. To place an order for delivery please call 969-2280 and/or send an email to dena.general@northwestel.net and someone will respond as soon as possible; 
  • Tu-Lidlini Petroleum advises that the gas station will have reduced hours from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. until further notice and that customers are strongly encouraged to use the Cardlock system to pay for fuel; 
  • Banking services will be available at the Dena General Store on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – services are provided at the door, as the store is currently closed to the public. 
  • The following travel advisory is now in effect:  
    • NO VISITORS – Please do not visit Ross River at this time;  
    • ROSS RIVER CITIZENS: ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY – Ross River citizens are asked to respect all travel advisories currently in effect and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our neighbouring communities of Watson Lake, Faro and Carmacks. Please refrain from travelling to these communities unless it is absolutely necessary (i.e. for medical reasons) Ross River Dena Council offices will remain closed to the public until further notice; 
  • Ross River Dena Council offices are now in the first phase of a three-phase Re-Opening Plan, which allows access to up to three staff members into RRDC buildings at one time; Ross River Dena Council will continue to engage with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Department of Health and Social Services and the COVID Response Unit to help strengthen community-level support. 

These measures were introduced in response to the outbreak in Whitehorse and the presence of COVID-19 in multiple communities, including Ross River. Council continues to work with territorial health authorities and our neighbouring communities to monitor the situation and takes this matter very seriously. 

Other COVID-19 Considerations

Here are some additional considerations and resources to help keep Ross River safe:

  • If you or someone you know had really mild symptoms and recently tested negative for COVID-19 this is good news, however it is not the end of the story. If symptoms get worse in the days (and weeks) following a test, it’s a good idea to self-isolate and call the Health Centre at 969-4444 to arrange for another test – when it comes to COVID-19, it’s way better to be safe than sorry;
  • For the latest COVID-19 Self-Isolation Guidelines: https://yukon.ca/en/self-isolation-covid-19;
  • If you see someone who was known to be self-isolating but may not be following the current the self-isolation guidelines, you can report this activity here;
  • If you live with others and are not able to self-isolate, please inform the Health Centre or Ross River Dena Council and efforts will be made to arrange for temporary self-isolation options; and
  • Anyone seeking mental health and wellness support are encouraged to call the LifeWorks Crisis Support Line at 1-844-751-2133 (open 24 hours, 7 days a week) or call (867) 332-5468 to reach the Mental Health, Counselling and Crisis Support Line for Ross River, Pelly Crossing, Carmacks and Faro citizens.

Job Opportunities / Volunteering Opportunities

Ross River Dena Council has established the RRDC COVID-19 Action Plan Working Group to advise Council and help coordinate COVID-19 community outreach and support efforts during an unprecedented public health emergency. The Working Group is open to anyone who wishes to lend a helping hand.

Now Hiring:

Ross River Dena Council is now seeking motivated community members who thrive under pressure and enjoy helping others to join our team and help lead the fight against COVID-19. The following positions are anticipatory and include temporary, part-time and full-time opportunities dedicated to leading a range of COVID-19 Prevention and COVID-19 Support Services activities.

  • COVID-19 Community Outreach Coordinator
  • COVID-19 Safety Officers (COVID-19 Safety Stop)
  • Self-Isolation Support (Delivery Drivers)
  • Website Designer / Communications Officer
  • Ross River COVID-19 Support Line Worker

If you are interested in one or more of these positions, please contact RRDC COVID-19 Action Plan Working Group Co-Chairs Verna Nukon (email to: verna.nukon@gmail.com) and/or Dylan Loblaw (email to: dylanloblaw@gmail.com) today!

Thank you,

Ross River Dena Council