Daily Sitka Sentinel

Additional Test Supplies Arriving, SEARHC Says

By Sentinel Staff

SEARHC provided an update today on its COVID-19 pandemic-related activities.

As of Monday, SEARHC said in a news release, approximately 100 COVID-19 tests have been performed throughout the health consortium’s service area, which covers all of Southeast Alaska.

“We are testing patients who meet the Centers for Disease Control and Alaska Department of Health and Social Services guidelines for testing,” SEARHC communications director Maegan Bosak said. “These symptomatic qualifiers and eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 test continue to change.”

The number and results of tests in Sitka were not provided. No cases have been confirmed in Sitka, DHSS said.

Bosak said SEARHC leaders remain in “continued contact with the aforementioned health care organizations and implement the most recent testing guidelines in real time.”

As of Monday, SEARHC had approximately 1,400 COVID-19 specimen collection supplies and 2,065 influenza testing supplies available throughout the Consortium, Bosak said.

“Those numbers are expected to increase as testing capabilities, including private sources, become more widely available,” she said.

Bosak said specimens have been collected at most of SEARHC’s clinic locations, and two have not yet had any patients who met the screening criteria for coronavirus testing.

“SEARHC staff continues to provide tests to all patients who meet the minimum symptomatic guidelines and qualifying criteria for potential exposure to the virus,” she said.