By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The three positive tests reported Thursday have moved Sitka a step closer to the “high” risk range for COVID transmission.
The 14-day rolling case average is now at .93 cases per day, and there are 11 current active cases, according to the dashboard.
The three new cases were listed in the Sentinel Thursday but contact tracing wasn’t complete by press time.
Information added Thursday shows about half of the most recent cases are attributed to “secondary” transmission. Of the last 12 cases, three were attributed to community spread, three to travel, and six to “secondary.” Two of the last 12 were asymptomatic, and the rest were symptomatic. No information was given on the number who were vaccinated, although one of the 12 was under 10 and not old enough for any of the shots.
The rolling case average is the highest it’s been since late January. Sitka peaked with a case rate of five in late November, a few weeks before the vaccine was available here. Sitka hasn’t gone above 1 since late January.
Sitka recorded 13 positive tests recorded for the past two weeks. One case is set to drop off today, and no new positive cases were added as of noon today.
Sitka shifted to moderate – orange under the color coding – on June 30. Recommendations are to wear masks indoors, keep six-foot distances, limit gatherings to 100 or fewer, observe reduced capacities in restaurants and bars.
As to precautions going into the holiday weekend, EMS Captain Rob Janik advised: “Get vaccinated, wear a mask, probably a good idea to wear masks regardless of vaccination status if you’re in a group that’s dense.”
The dashboard shows some 5,397 in Sitka are partially vaccinated, or 73 percent of the 12 and up population; and 5,057 are fully vaccinated, or 68 percent of the 12 and up population.
