By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka had a dip in COVID cases over the weekend, after more than a week of at least 20 per day.
Four cases were added to the dashboard on Saturday and 10 on Sunday. The weekend’s count included four nonresident positive tests. On Friday, the count was 20 residents and four nonresidents.
By press time today, nine positive tests were added to the dashboard for today, including two for kids under 10.
The 14-day rolling case rate remains high, at 19.57 average cases per day. Sitka has been on “high” alert since going above 1 case per day on July 6.
Alaska’s chief medical officer Dr. Anne Zink is scheduled to speak to the Assembly via videoconference, at the regular meeting on Tuesday. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz has called a emergency meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday at Centennial Hall, at the request of four Assembly members working through City Clerk Sara Peterson.
The mayor said he expected the separate meeting would be needed, following Zink’s presentation to the Assembly Tuesday. He asked last week for the meeting room to be reserved for the purpose, on July 29. Eisenbeisz said an agenda was still in the works, but that the items would be related to COVID.
Peterson notified the public today that the purpose of the meeting would be “for the Assembly to consider multiple emergency ordinances related to COVID-19.” The agenda and packet would be available after they are finalized, and published at:
https://sitka.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
“We’re working as quickly as possible to get the information out,” Eisenbeisz said.
A graphic provided by the city shows the infection rates for vaccinated and unvaccinated residents. (Provided by the City and Borough of Sitka)
Assembly member Rebecca Himschoot said she was one of the four who wanted a separate meeting, with more time devoted to discuss COVID after Zink talks to the Assembly.
Himschoot is hoping that three items appear on the agenda, including one related to masks; hotel availability for COVID-positive travelers; and a grant to allow those who have tested positive for COVID to stay home, with some financial support.
“They shouldn’t have to make the hard choice between income and protecting the community,” she said.
On the mask mandate, she said, her main concern is for the safety of those too young to be vaccinated.
“I want to hear what Dr. Zink has to say and watch Sitka’s numbers before I commit to supporting any of the measures,” she said. “But we need to have the measures ready so that we can be responsive.”
She added that she turned in her list of proposed ordinances this morning for legal and financial review, and didn’t know whether any would be on the agenda.
Assembly member Kevin Knox did not ask for the special meeting but said he and other Assembly members so far have received more than two dozen letters from advocates for a mask mandate by the Assembly.
“Every day there’s been three or four,” he said, of the coordinated effort to petition Assembly members. “It’s a wide cross-representation of ages.”
He said he’s looking forward to hearing from Zink on Tuesday before making any decisions related to COVID and the community.
Contact tracing is still in process for most of the most recent cases, but the information posted so far shows a variety of ages and sources of transmission.
Both SEARHC and Harry Race Pharmacy are holding vaccination clinics, including on Friday. SEARHC estimated 90 shots were administered last week, and 75 scheduled so far this week. Harry Race administered some 40 on Friday.
Sitka’s figures have gone up slightly to 5,589 partially vaccinated (76 percent of those 12 and up); and 5,197 fully vaccinated (70 percent of those 12 and up). Sitka’s eligible population – those age 12 and older – is 7,385.
City Administrator John Leach is updating Sitka’s rate of infection for vaccinated people, unvaccinated people and the community as a whole:
– Infection rate of vaccinated – 2.64%
– Infection rate of non-vaccinated – 12.10%
– Total cumulative community infection rate – 7.79%
The chart to illustrate the rise in infections for all three groups shows the steepest increase in the unvaccinated population.
The city dashboard doesn’t tell which positive cases were for vaccinated or unvaccinated patients, but Public Health Nurse Denise Ewing said today by text that since July 1, “we have had 444 new COVID cases reported to public health. Out of those we have had 120 breakthrough cases which is 27 percent.” A breakthrough is a positive test on a vaccinated person.
She added: “Approximately .03 percent of those breakthrough cases have required hospitalization due to COVID. ... The vaccine isn’t bulletproof but it is still doing what was promised and that is keeping most people from hospitalization or death.”
SEARHC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elliot Bruhl estimated last week that between three and seven patients were at the Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center any time for COVID.
He is one of eight Alaska hospital representatives scheduled to give an update on “concerns about hospital capacity in Alaska” 11 a.m. Wednesday. The virtual event is sponsored by the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association. Those wanting to attend may call Gina Romero at 907-351-6974.
