By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The increase in COVID-19 testing across the U.S., and Alaska’s new requirement for test results by mail, are presenting new challenges to many travelers headed for Alaska, Sitka officials said this week.
“We’ve been pretty active answering a lot of questions coming in,” said one of the public information officers for the Sitka coronavirus response group, the Unified Command.
“A lot of individuals from different states are having problems getting emailed responses on their tests,” Jessica Ieremia said at the weekly meeting of the Unified Command Wednesday. “Some states are so busy testing that they’re getting phone calls and verbal answers, ‘you’re negative’ or ‘you’re positive,’” she said.
This has presented difficulties in following the Alaska mandate related to travel, which require travelers coming into Alaska to enter their negative test result into a state online portal. That requires documentation by email, Ieremia said.
“I’m trying to help them with this process,” said Ieremia, whose regular job is Sitka Public Library director.
The city last week rolled out its new alert level system and is working on releasing a “dashboard” providing more complete information about COVID test results in Sitka and Alaska.
With two new positive test results received Thursday, Sitka’s alert level remains at “moderate” – or orange - which comes with it various recommendations. Sitka’s cumulative test count is today at 39 resident cases and 17 nonresident cases. The cumulative hospitalization count remains at 1.
Among the liaison reports Wednesday, Mt. Edgecumbe High School Superintendent Janelle Vanasse told the group about testing arriving students. There were two positive test results in the first group of arrivals, but the rest of the more than 300 arriving to live on campus had negative results.
“We finished the first part of our phase - dorm-wide dorm room quarantine until we could get all test results back,” she said. “For the vast, vast majority of kids we have the two negative tests already and they will be tested again this Friday, and that will be their seven-day test.”
The kids are now out of their dorm room quarantine, and are in their “crew” of 8 to 16 people, which will last through their first 14 days after their arrival.
City Administrator John Leach, the incident commander for the city emergency operations center for COVID, reviewed some of the scenarios discussed by the group at the weekly meeting, including cruise ships, seafood processors and now Edgecumbe.
Speaking of the MEHS plan, he said, “You guys have a great plan. There’s nothing like having to put it into practice on the first day, but I’m very impressed with your plan and I think you guys are doing great work.”
Leach said he has seen inappropriate and uncalled for comments on social media about the students who tested positive, and said he was glad the comments were removed by the moderators of the site.
Fire Chief Dave Miller, EOC operations manager, was at the airport when some of the Edgecumbe students arrived, and said he has been checking in from time on the testing process at the airport, and helping out as necessary.
“What a great group of kids to deal with,” he said, describing the new reality of multiple tests for these teens. “What a sad thing - shoving something up your nose all the time is not the most fun thing in the world. And it’s funny listening to those kids talk about it...”
The Sitka School District made a report to the Unified Command, and district officials said today that based on its red-yellow-green system for risk level, the district remains at yellow today. Half of the students attended Thursday and the other half today to start out the school year.
Superintendent John Holst is preparing a letter to parents, outlining guidelines for the students participating in in-person instruction. Each principal will also write a letter for each specific school to outline the process for positive test results coming in, and how the school will respond.
The letters will go out soon, Holst said today. He emphasized the importance of reassuring parents and the community that there is a plan in place for “if and when it happens.” The Sentinel will have a story on the letters when they are available.
Referring to the positive test result received Thursday for a person in the 10 to 19 age group, Holst said today that there were no students in classrooms Thursday and Friday with a positive test result.
“The rumor mill travels faster than any other form of communication,” he said. “We want to keep parents in the loop and make sure it’s accurate information they’re getting.”
Representing SEARHC at the Unified Command meeting, PIO Maegan Bosak said some 120 people were tested at the drive up site last weekend. The free asymptomatic testing is available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, next to Mountainside Family Healthcare, and the turnaround expected is seven days.
She said the SEARHC response team is continuing its COVID prevention measures, such as mandatory testing for staff and screening for patients. She said patients should continue regular preventative care.
“I’m sure you’ve seen in the news there’s cases of cancers that weren’t caught due to COVID and folks not being able to come to (healthcare) facilities,” she said. “I would encourage Sitkans don’t delay care, make sure you get what you need.”
Jay Sweeney, EOC finance section chief, provided an update on getting the Sitka’s expenses related to COVID covered, which are works in progress. Leach described the level of detail needed in order to get expenses covered by FEMA for projects to protect the public.
Richard Wein, the Assembly liaison, updated the group on some of his readings in the last week, including recommendations from the CDC related to quarantine and face coverings.
In another liaison report, Public Health Nurse Denise Ewing updated the group on positive test totals for the state.
