Virus Mitigation
Dear Editor: It’s simple: mask up, vaccinate and mitigate.
I was going to cook tacos for dinner. I stopped by the store to grab a few essential items. As I’m checking out, I heard a friendly “Hello, Crystal.” It was Dr. Bruhl, SEARHC chief medical officer. He was masked. I wasn’t. After that, my stash of masks came out of retirement, and I’ve been masking in public ever since. That was July 7, two days after Sitka’s risk designation graduated from moderate to high. Since then our cases have been steadily climbing.
I’m not an expert – never claimed to be. I am not schooled or experienced in epidemiology or even a health field. And though I work for a health care organization, I recognize the best thing I can do is find, and listen to, experts who can guide me and our community through this. I follow their lead. I am following Dr. Bruhl’s lead on this one.
I find it a blessing that I was one of the first in Sitka to be fully vaccinated. My position, with its regular access to patients, is why on Jan. 7 I received my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Despite that, it wasn’t until the CDC put out a statement about masking that I hesitantly took mine off. Why? Do I love not having to put on lipstick? Kinda. Do I love not having to check my teeth after I inhale an everything bagel? Little bit. But the truth is, I have always worn my mask to protect those around me. I put it back on because at this point in time, there are two categories of Sitkans who are not eligible or recommended to receive the vaccine: children under 12 and a limited number of folks, who after consultation with their doctor, are not getting vaccinated due to underlying medical conditions. I need to do what I can to ensure people from those categories will not become part of those 97% of unvaccinated Alaskans whose deaths will be attributed to COVID. OUR actions offer them a layer of protection.
Is this because of a variant? Maybe. Is this because of vaccine hesitancy? Probably. Is it because the CDC is learning more about the coronavirus as it evolves? Likely. But I’m not going to jump into the mud on this debate. If you show me increasing numbers, I’m going to fall back on CDC recommended mitigation factors that guided us through 2020 and beyond. Don’t take it from me, hear Dr. Zink, Chief Medical Officer of Alaska, as she reminds us that social distancing, outdoor summer activities, mask wearing in public (particularly indoors) and having a small circle of contacts will help us minimize the spread.
Like you, I’m sad for our community, a bit fearful, and still exhausted that we haven’t woken up from this yet! But, we’ll get through it together, as always. And to those who are taking the lead on addressing this uptick, I see you, I thank you, and I know you’re doing it for the good of your community. I think most of us are on the same page: a COVID-free Sitka is a healthy Sitka, and a thriving Sitka.
Crystal Duncan, Sitka
