By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka’s five new COVID cases on Thursday pushed the case rate slightly upward, to 187.73.
The rate represents cases of residents and nonresidents from the last seven days (Sept. 10-16), per 100,000 population. The city dashboard lists 16 cases, leading to the 187.73 case rate.
Case rates of 100 or more keep Sitka in the “high” alert level. Sitka’s case rate has been between 100 and 200 since September 11.
The rate has been on a decline since late July, but has gone up slightly the last few days. The new case rate of weekly cases per 100,000 that Sitka started using on Sept. 1 aligns itself with the state alert system.
The state Section of Epidemiology has four alert levels - high, substantial, moderate and low. The Section’s webpage noted: “Because some boroughs and census areas have small populations, the level may fluctuate frequently and may not reflect community transmission.” Most of Alaska is currently in the “high” alert level, with the exception of the Aleutians, currently at “moderate”; and the Petersburg/Wrangell area, at “substantial.”
The state dashboard shows all of the positive tests in the last week here were for residents.
SEARHC reported 66 people received shots at this week’s COVID vaccination clinic. Harry Race Pharmacy also ran a busy clinic today with 46 receiving COVID shots, and others coming in for the seasonal flu vaccine, pharmacist Trish White reported.
