BY SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff writer
With 15 new positive test results for COVID-19 reported in the last three days, Sitka’s dashboard today showed the average cases per day is 3.71.
The positive test results were for tests taken between November 6 through 13, and patients age 0 to 69, with most age ranges represented.
The dashboard showed six positive test results Friday; six on Saturday and three Sunday. In the group, 10 cases have been attributed to “secondary” transmission, and two to “travel,” with blank spaces for the remainder because contact tracing is still “in progress.”
The dashboard, with additional details of when the tests were conducted, is available at cityofsitka.org.
COVID cases in Sitka were already on the rise last Wednesday when the most recent Unified Command meeting was held, and City Administrator John Leach said the uptick was expected.
“I think we’ll take a very measured approach with it,” he said.
Leach, who is the incident commander on the city’s response team on the pandemic, led off the meeting with the latest lab analysis of Sitka’s wastewater, which indicated community transmission was taking place in Sitka. The sample collected Oct. 28 showed a “weakly positive” COVID-19 detection. The lab report from the Nov. 11 sample states:
“Wastewater in Sitka, Alaska exhibited an indicator of COVID-19 in the sample. According to Alaska DHSS, there have been 87 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sitka Borough, from 4/25/20 to 11/09/20. In October-November, 2020, multiple active cases are reflected by an increasing epidemic curve, including on 10/28/20 and 11/04/20 when the samples were collected. Wastewater detection suggests community transmission in this context. If additional COVID-19 RNA is detected in upcoming weeks, we will attempt to launch an investigation of COVID-19 origin using a genomics-based epidemic tracing method at UAA.”
“To put it simply it’s low but it’s showing it’s community spread,” Leach said. The wastewater test results are posted on the dashboard, at cityofsitka.org
Leach referred to the resolution passed last week by the Assembly, encouraging testing, whether arriving from in state or out of state, and following protocols and precautions for reducing the spread of the virus.
Assembly member Thor Christianson, one of the co-sponsors of the resolution, said at the Unified Command meeting that one of the reasons for the resolution was to get Sitkans thinking and talking about the issue.
“Overall we had fairly good participation and comments (at the Assembly meeting),” said Christianson, who is in charge of logistics on the Unified Command group.
City Clerk Sara Peterson, one of the city’s public information officers, said she is working on publicizing the city’s recommendations on the testing of arriving travelers and also on the wearing of masks in city facilities, as well as “reminding Sitkans to be kind to one another.”
Peterson said she is also trying to get the word out about the Alaska Department of Health and Social Service messages on “winter resiliency,” and what steps to take after you are tested for COVID. (The winter resiliency campaign relates to physical and mental health, and COVID prevention measures during winter.)
She thanked Fire Chief Craig Warren for creating a video for the city’s Facebook page, asking for the public’s help in bringing the case rate down.
“We have to do something, and we have to do it now,” Warren said. “Our schools are closing and there’s going to be a large burden on our healthcare system.”
Warren’s one-minute message can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/City-and-Borough-of-Sitka-357514094349794/videos/896822744473856
A transcript of his remarks also appears in today’s Sentinel.
“Stay safe,” said Planning Section Chief Rob Janik, listing such recommendations as limiting social contacts, practicing proper hygiene, wearing a mask and getting tested if you have symptoms.
“If you can stay home, you probably should stay at home right now and think twice before going out and socializing,” he added.
“Ditto,” said Warren. “This virus is transmitted person to person. ... Let’s do our part.”
Christianson, logistics section chief, told the group he has been receiving inquiries from the general public about where to get mitigation supplies. He said today he has been providing the suppliers’ contact information, to those who ask.
SEARHC liaison Maegan Bosak said as of last Tuesday, more than 33,000 COVID tests in Sitka had been processed, with 117 positive results, of which 103 were “unique cases.”
SEARHC has stopped free asymptomatic testing, but Bosak said anyone needing an appointment for testing may call the hotline at 966-8799. Asymptomatic testing is still available for those needing to travel, for a fee of $145. She also said SEARHC is reminding patients of the availability of “telehealth.”
Bosak said the the U.S. Centers for Disease control has removed “rash” from the “list of possible identifiers for COVID.” As for the availability of COVID treatment resources in Sitka, Bosak said the hospital “is not at full capacity by any means, and do have SEARHC plans in place should we need additional bed support, but right now ... we have plenty of beds available.”
Grace Roller, from the state public health nurse’s office, reported new cases coming in regularly. She said most of those contacted are cooperative and quarantine or isolate when asked, but a few people have declined to list their contacts. She said for those in close contact with a person who has tested positive, the recommendation is to quarantine for 14 days from the last known exposure, and try to get a test 7 days after last known exposure.
“Quarantine and test if you know you have been in contact with a positive individual,” Roller said, and echoed other preventative measures. “It’s really important, When you do test, give correct and accurate phone information.”
Janelle Vanasse, Mt. Edgecumbe High School superintendent, said the school recorded a positive test result on campus on Wednesday, the student is isolating and contact tracing at the time was ongoing.
Sitka School District Superintendent John Holst spoke of the virtual instruction program that went into effect Nov. 11.
“For what we have been tracking, we don’t believe there has been or is likely to be, serious transmission inside the buildings, but the numbers just got too big,” he said, of the decision to go to online instruction for most schools.
“We’d like to reopen as soon as we can. ... We’re at everybody else’s mercy,” he said, emphasizing the need for everyone in Sitka to follow mitigation practices. “It’s just that simple,” he said.
A news release from Sitka Unified Command reminds Sitkans “to remain diligent and practice proper hygiene measures, such as washing your hands often, avoiding close contact with others and keeping your social circle small.” Other measures are to stay home when sick, wear a face covering when around others, and clean and disinfect objects and surfaces on a regular basis.
“If you are concerned you might have contracted the coronavirus contact the COVID hotline at 966.8799 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Outside of normal clinic hours, patients can contact the SEARHC 24/7 Nurse Advice Line at 1.800.613.0560 to be triaged by a registered nurse.”
Websites for COVID information are:
Weekend Case Count
All of the positive test results over the weekend were for residents.
The Friday positive test results were:
- symptomatic male, 40-49, tested Nov. 12, “secondary.”
- symptomatic female, 50-59, tested Nov. 12, “secondary.”
- symptomatic male, 40-49, tested Nov. 11, “secondary.”
- symptomatic male, 50-59, tested Nov. 12, “secondary.”
- symptomatic female, 50-59, tested Nov. 9, “travel.”
- symptomatic male, 60-69, tested Nov. 9, “travel.”
Saturday
- male, 20-29, tested Nov. 9, contact tracing in progress.
- male, 20-29, tested Nov. 6, contact tracing in progress.
- asymptomatic female, 60-69, tested Nov. 9, “secondary.”
- asymptomatic female, 0-9, tested Nov. 9, “secondary.”
- asymptomatic male, 0-9, tested Nov. 9, “secondary.”
- asymptomatic female, 0-9, tested Nov. 9, “secondary.”
Sunday
- symptomatic female, 0-9, tested Nov. 13, “secondary.”
- female, 30-39, tested Nov. 9, contact tracing in progress.
- symptomatic male, 60-69, tested Nov. 13, “secondary.”
