By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Two new nonresident cases were added to the local COVID-19 dashboard in the last few days.
Since nonresident cases don’t affect the 14-day rolling average, it stayed on “low,” with an average .29 cases per day.
The last two positive test results were for an asymptomatic man in his 30s, tested Monday, with results received the same day; and for a symptomatic man in his 60s, tested Wednesday and results ready the same day. Contact tracing is ongoing for the more recent case, and both cases were attributed to travel.
Sitka has had four resident cases over the last two weeks, two of them currently active. Among the last 12 cases, seven are attributed to travel, three to secondary transmission, and two to community spread.
The state Department of Health and Social Services website reports slowly rising numbers of vaccinated Sitkans: 5,318 residents age 12 and up are partially vaccinated (72 percent); and 4,940 fully vaccinated (67 percent).
Sitka has a population of 7,385, counting those age 12 and older.
The state also tracks vaccination rates by age group. Of Sitka’s 1,478 residents 65 and older, 1,184 (80 percent) have been partially vaccinated; and 1,141 (77 percent) are fully vaccinated.
The Unified Command group of emergency, health and community leaders met Wednesday.
Asked for a comment today, state Public Health Nurse Denise Ewing said the battle against COVID is not over.
“We must come together in solidarity to build immunity everywhere through vaccination,” she texted the Sentinel. “The vaccine is saving lives; please do your part and get vaccinated.”
The next Harry Race Pharmacy clinic is at the Sitka Fire Hall, for all three vaccines available. Signups are at sitkapharmacies.com. Registration for a vaccine at SEARHC is through covid19.searhc.org.
