Daily Sitka Sentinel

New Arrival in Sitka Brings COVID Virus

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

Public Health officials reported a “nonresident positive test” for the COVID-19 virus in Sitka today.

The person with a positive test result is a man aged 50 to 59, said Public Health Nurse Denise Ewing.

As a new arrival to the state, he had gone directly to his quarters for a 14-day self-quarantine.

After he became symptomatic, he was tested Tuesday at the drive-up alternate testing tent outside Mountainside Family Healthcare. Due to his symptoms, he went to Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center emergency department, Ewing said.

“Once clinically stable, the patient was discharged to continue quarantine,” the Sitka Unified Command said in a news release.

“This is a positive case in Sitka but it’s going to be an out-of-state case,” Ewing said. “Sitka will not show ‘number 3’ for positive cases because it’s out of state.”

Sitka’s other two positive cases, on April 25 and May 25, were asymptomatic.

Ewing said the most recent positive case was a man who came to Sitka for nonseasonal work. Because he followed the self-quarantine requirement for new arrivals, it was easy to track the source to out-of-state, she said.

“We opened travel, so people are going to travel,” Ewing said. “He was fine when he traveled and had no symptoms. It’s during that time people may be carrying the virus and the possibility they’re shedding the virus. That’s why quarantining is so important – as well as washing your hands and distancing. It’s the only things that keep the traveler – and where they’re traveling to – safe.”

Ewing gave the patient top marks for following precautions and doing his “due diligence.”

“Because of his respect and care he has very few contacts,” Ewing said. “He has done everything right: he went directly to quarantine, he had food delivered and hasn’t left his quarantine location. He’s done an amazing job of keeping all the health recommendations, and followed them to a T.”

“When he started to feel symptomatic, he called SEARHC,” Ewing said. “And because of that there’s not a lot of contact. ... He did everything right, and that made my job easier.”

He will continue to quarantine in the same location, and be monitored by Ewing.

State Health Mandate 10 is the requirement for travelers to the state to self-quarantine for 14 days. On Friday, Gov. Dunleavy announced plans to modify Mandate 10, effective June 6, leaving the self-quarantine requirement in effect, but giving some options for avoiding quarantine through testing negative.

The full text of the mandate and changes is available at:

https://covid19.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MANDATE-010-REVISED-06.03.20.pdf

The testing alternative will bring new challenges to health officials, Ewing said.

“We will do everything we can to reach out to people within two hours of receiving the information (about test results),” she said. 

Ewing noted the state is currently interviewing candidates to fill 500 public health nurse positions to help with contact tracing. The state is reaching out to retirees, recent graduates and nursing students for help.

A news release from the Sitka Unified Command urged  residents to continue “to remain diligent and practice the health measures we’ve all learned in recent weeks and months: wash your hands often, avoid close contact with others and keep your social circle small, stay home if you feel ill, wear a face covering when around others, and clean and disinfect objects and surfaces on a regular basis.”

If you are concerned you might have contracted the coronavirus contact the COVID hotline at 966-8799 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outside of normal clinic hours, call the SEARHC 24/7 Nurse Advice Line at 1 (800) 613-0560.