By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
City Administrator John Leach on Sunday declared a “local disaster emergency,” and called an emergency Assembly meeting for 6 p.m. today.
On the agenda are a resolution and an emergency budget ordinance to help cover costs associated with fighting the COVID-19 pandemic locally.
Local health officials stressed the importance of reducing risks – including by the self-isolation of some travelers arriving in Sitka – in order to “hold the line” on the number of cases in Alaska.
The recommendations for frequent hand-washing, social distancing, staying home when sick, and avoiding touching hands and face, as prevention measures also apply.
City offices and buildings were closed to the public today, but Leach said essential government services will continue as much as possible.
A number of private businesses also closed their doors to the public, Sitka Tribe of Alaska closed its doors at noon today, and organizations canceled many events.
“We’re trying to work through the process, but it will take a while for people to get used to it,” Leach said. “We’re going to work to limit exposure to flatten that curve.”
“Flattening the curve” refers to the goal of preventing and slowing the spread of the virus as much as possible, to prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed with too many cases at once.
Sitkans practice social distancing at Friday’s special Assembly meeting. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
Currently there is one confirmed case in Alaska, and none in Sitka. SEARHC said several Sitkans have been tested, and 1,300 test kits are available across the SEARHC consortium.
Dr. Elliot Bruhl, medical director for SEARHC, said the most significant development in recent days is the advisory for travelers. He said the state and community are at a “critical point.”
The health alert from the state Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink is for those returning to the state from certain areas to “self isolate” for two weeks. Bruhl said “personal responsibility” is essential.
“I spent some time talking to Dr. Zink last night,” Bruhl said. “The biggest threat is people coming from outside and bringing the virus to our communities. ... There is really a critical point in the next two to three weeks in terms of holding the line and keeping our community safe.”
Zink advised those returning to Sitka from certain countries (categorized as high risk) to avoid contact with family members and avoid returning to work for two weeks.
“Medium risk” are those returning to Sitka from elsewhere in the U.S. They are being asked to discuss their work situation with employers before returning to work, and minimize contact with people as much as possible, self-monitor and practice social distancing, for 14 days.
“This may mean not going to work or school if you cannot safely be distanced from others – especially if you traveled in a location where community transmission is occurring,” DHSS said.
“The idea is for us to identify people out of state who are returning to Sitka, and ensure they’re isolated from the community, checking their temperature,” Bruhl said. “It’s having a significant effect on us, and we’re working hard to deal with it.”
Around noon today SEARHC suspended elective hospital procedures, and was working on changing dental department operations to reduce risk. Bruhl said “personal responsibility” is important at this stage.
Maegan Bosak, SEARHC director of marketing and communications, said SEARHC is concerned about misinformation, and encourages the public to keep current by going to the covid19.searhc.org website for links to reliable sources.
“We continue to encourage people to get information from the Centers for Disease Control, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services – that’s where our information is coming from as well,” Bosak said. “We look to them as experts.”
Plans are in the works for a SEARHC drive-up testing service, which will be announced later this week, she said.
About half of the city employees who work at city hall have made arrangements to work from home, Leach said. He said calls to their city work phones are being forwarded to the employees’ personal and home phones.
On Saturday the Sitka Library invited patrons to check out up to 50 items before doors closed at 6 p.m. Online resources are available, and staff will continue to monitor email at library@cityofsitka.org. Library officials said they are working on plans to continue essential services, in line with the rest of the city.
The courthouse remains open, but members of the public are asked to interact with the court system remotely (see below).
The emergency Assembly meeting at 6 p.m. today at Harrigan Centennial Hall will be open to the public, but the building is closed for other group activities.
At the special meeting Friday afternoon, Centennial Hall staff placed all chairs in the public section 6 feet from each other in all directions, in accordance with CDC recommendation on “social distancing.” About 30 members of the public attended that meeting.
Grocery stores are open as usual, with coronavirus-related safety advisories posted for employees and customers. Store managers said some items were out of stock, and purchase limits have been set on some high-demand items. They said they are considering options for further reducing risks to staff and public, and keeping the shelves stocked.
At 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Leach read a disaster declaration on the Code Red line, that went out to 5,800 phones.
Leach said he made his declaration of local disaster emergency under “AS 26.23.140 to help prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, to open emergency funding, and formally request state and federal support. As of this reading,” he said, “there are still no known cases of the COVID-19 virus in Sitka.”
A resolution under consideration at tonight’s emergency meeting would keep the emergency in effect “until November 24, 2020, or until the virus is no longer declared a federal or state emergency, whichever occurs first.”
The draft resolution also directs and authorizes the administrator to request state and federal help and funding as needed, and to “issue and implement any orders necessary to prevent the transmission of infectious disease and to take measures to ensure that all cases of contagious disease are subject to proper control and treatment. In addition, the municipal administrator is hereby authorized and directed to make all resources of the municipal government, including CBS personnel, available as necessary to deal with this emergency, and municipal departments, agencies, and/or personnel may be transferred or altered in function for the purpose of performing or facilitating performance services responsive to this emergency.”
There is also an agenda item for an emergency ordinance and a supplemental general fund appropriation (out of the emergency fund) from the FY2020 budget for virus response expenses.
They include:
– an increase of $150,000 for possible personnel expenditures that may be required as a result of the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
– an increase of $200,000 for supplies relating to the City and Borough of Sitka’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
– an increase of $150,000 for contracted and purchased services.
Only one reading is required to pass an emergency ordinance, and five votes are needed. The city clerk said all seven Assembly members are expected to attend, with Valorie Nelson attending from out of state via teleconference.
Superior Court Judge Jude Pate said today that the Alaska Court System will remain open for in-person customer service. However, until further notice, the court strongly encourages customers to interact with court staff remotely as much as possible.
Pate said that to minimize exposure the court encourages customers to file motions, requests, or paperwork via mail, email or the drop box located at the clerk’s counter, call the court instead of coming in person with questions, and appear for court hearings by phone. Members of the public are also encouraged to call their attorney or the court for the correct call-in number.
The court phone is 747-3291; email is 1SIMailbox@akcourts.us, and mailing address is 304 Lake St., room 203, Sitka, AK 99835
