By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka’s dashboard shows eight new positive test results for COVID-19 between Friday and Sunday.
The 14-day rolling case rate hit an average of 2.0 cases per day for the first time.
All of the positive test results over the weekend were those of female residents. The four positive test results for Friday, November 6, were for a symptomatic female, age 40-49, tested November 1, with a “transmission classification” of travel; a symptomatic female, 10-19, who was tested November 4 with a transmission classification of “community spread”; a female, 30-39, tested November 5, and a transmission classification of “secondary; and a symptomatic female, 40-49, and a transmission classifications of “travel.”
On Saturday, the positive test results were for a symptomatic female, 20-29, tested November 2; and a symptomatic female, 60-69, tested November 2, “community spread.”
On Sunday, the positive test results were for a female, 40-49, who was tested November 7; and an asymptomatic female, 50-59, tested November 2, with a transmission classification of “travel.”
Results had not been posted by press time today for any additional tests.
The dashboard shows 20 current active cases, 3 cumulative hospitalizations, and a 14-day rolling case rate of 2.00. Sitka has had 83 cumulative resident cases, and 19 for nonresidents.
Sitka is at a high alert level – or red – with precautions for wearing face coverings and maintaining 6-foot physical distances; in restaurants and bars, employees “strongly encouraged” to wear masks, and capacity is reduced to maintain physical distances.
The Sitka School District is at a high risk level (also red). Mt. Edgecumbe High School remained in the “moderate” – orange – risk level, with no town leave allowed, no visitors and deliveries restricted.
A new feature of Sitka’s dashboard added last week was for the 14-day rolling average case rate, which shows the rate fluctuating between 0 and 1 since August 2, dipping September 13 and around October 18, but a steady climb since then.
EMS Capt. Rob Janik, planning section chief for the city emergency operations center, said the new chart was suggested by Fire Chief Craig Warren, and Janik agreed it would be a good additional piece of information for the public.
“It gives us a really good visual of the trend over time,” Janik said today. “We’re on a steep upslope.”
The dashboard also includes reports on the testing for COVID-19 in Sitka’s wastewater system.
