By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka’s current active COVID-19 case figure topped 100 on Thursday, with 18 positive tests added that day alone. Seventeen more cases were reported by 2 p.m. today, authorities said.
Most of the case results posted today are listed as “symptomatic,” with “secondary” cited as the source of transmission, indicating that the infection was acquired from a person already carrying the virus. Information on many of the cases from the last few days is “in process,” but there is a wide range of ages.
The “Community Metrics” on the dashboard were updated at 5 p.m. Thursday, showing 104 current active cases, 15 cumulative hospitalizations and a 14-day rolling case rate of 7.29 cases per day.
Plans are in the works for the vaccination status of those testing positive to be publicly released, but that hasn’t happened yet.
On Wednesday, SEARHC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elliot Bruhl said that of the 60 positive tests from the past week, 18 were “breakthrough” cases – vaccinated people who tested positive.
Liz Holmgren vaccinates Alexis Nicolo against COVID-19 this morning during a clinic held in the Harry Race Pharmacy building. A steady line of Sitkans turned out to get the free shot. The clinic was part of the Sitka Sleeves Up for Summer program. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
Harry Race Pharmacy reported that appointments were nearly filled for this morning’s scheduled clinic. Vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen were offered. Pharmacist Trish White said the clinic drew 41 signups, 60 percent of whom were getting their first shot. The clinic was held in the building next door to Harry Race.
Asked how today’s clinic went, White texted “very well, very busy.” The next vaccination clinic is 10 a.m. to noon July 30.
SEARHC said today that in the last week it has received 60 requests for vaccinations, and 40 patients are scheduled for upcoming clinics. Additional slots have been added to accommodate the higher demand but not all clinics are full, said SEARHC spokeswoman Maegan Bosak.
Registration and signups are at:
covid19.searhc.org for SEARHC.
sitkapharmacies.com for Harry Race.
The 7.29 average cases is the highest the daily average has been since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
The daily average doesn’t include the 17 cases posted by 2 p.m. today.
The number of hospitalizations here more than doubled in recent weeks, from 6 to 15, but has held at that number in the last few days, authorities said.
The Unified Command group (city, fire department, SEARHC) is recommending that Sitkans resume the masking and social distancing precautions adopted earlier in the pandemic.
Reading a statement, Incident Commander Craig Warren said:
“This disease has changed, and we are not fighting the same disease that we were up against last year. Please follow the guidance, talk to your health care professional about the vaccine if you are not vaccinated, and look out for each other!”
The Anchorage Daily News reported today on the results of a new study on Alaska breakthrough cases, that is, of people already vaccinated: from February through June there were 656 breakthrough cases, 4.2% of the overall number of COVID-19 cases in that period.
Of the 656, a total of 17 people were hospitalized and two died of COVID-19, though both had other “substantial comorbidities,” the newspaper reported.
The story also said about 52% of the Alaska breakthrough cases in the study were symptomatic, 38% were asymptomatic, and the rest were unknown. In Sitka Dr. Bruhl has said breakthrough cases are to be expected, but that having been vaccinated, these individuals have milder cases, often asymptomatic, and are less likely to need hospitalization.
As a result of the local surge in cases, the City and Borough of Sitka is requiring masks in city buildings where social distancing can’t be observed. Event organizers and a number of businesses also are asking patrons to observe mask and distancing precautions.
Unified Command issued a reminder about how to slow the spread of COVID, including social distancing, wearing a mask, getting vaccinated, practicing good hygiene, and staying out of crowded and poorly ventilated spaces.
“The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19,” the UC advisory said.
In a statement on Tuesday, the task force said all Sitkans should observe basic prevention principles.
“In order to keep businesses open and not let hospital capacity be at risk, we need to flatten the curve, because what we have been doing, by being relaxed, it’s not flattening the curve,” the announcement said.
Sitka went from low to high alert in a single week, and has been at “high” COVID risk level since July 6.
