(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reported today there were nine new cases of COVID-19 yesterday in four Alaska communities – Anchorage (5), Kenai (1), and Fairbanks (2) and Wasilla (1). These new cases were reported from 12:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on April 8 and reflect data posted at noon April 9, 2020.

Today's report brings the total case count in Alaska to 235. Of these 235 positive cases, 49 have recovered statewide.

Of the new cases reported today - three are male and six are female. One case is aged 20-29; four are aged 30-39; one is aged 40-49; two are aged 50-59; and one is aged 70-79. There have been 27 total hospitalizations with no new hospitalizations yesterday. 

And on Wednesday, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reported one new death and 13 new cases of COVID-19 in three Alaska communities – Anchorage (6), Palmer (1) and Fairbanks (6). This brings the total case count in Alaska to 226 as of April 7th. 

The person who died is a female aged 40-49 from Anchorage who was admitted to a local hospital on April 5. Her positive test result came back April 7th. This brings the total deaths from COVID-19 to seven Alaskans, two of whom were out of state when they died. 

“The loss of these Alaskans is sad and difficult, for the families, loved ones, the communities where these individuals lived, and for all of Alaska,” said Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink. “This daily press release relays the data associated with COVID-19 to the public but behind each number is an Alaskan. My thoughts are with this individual’s loved ones today.”

Of the new cases reported Tuesday, seven are male and six are female. Two cases are aged 20-29; one is aged 30-39; three are aged 40-49; three are aged 50-59; three are aged 60-69; and one is an aged 80+. There have been 27 total hospitalizations with four new hospitalizations yesterday.  A total of 32 recovered cases reported. 

In other response news, DHSS on April 8th began shipping 44 rapid testing machines to 27 communities across the state. DHSS coordinated with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to help determine which communities needed the tests, prioritizing areas that were off the road system or on the road system but 100 miles from the nearest testing facility. DHSS also took into consideration communities impacted by an increase in seasonal workers coming from other areas.   

For Monday, April 6, 2020, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) announced 22 new cases of COVID-19 in four Alaska communities – Anchorage (10), Fairbanks (9), North Pole (2) and Bethel (1). This brought the total case count in Alaska to 213 on the count.

The Bethel case on Monday is the first for the Bethel census area (Southwest Region) and is associated with out-of-state travel. Alaska Division of Public Health staff are working with Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) staff to complete a thorough contact investigation. 

“We are working closely with the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation and local public health nursing staff to identify people who may have been exposed to this person and offer appropriate testing, isolation, and quarantine guidance,” said Alaska State Epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin. “We are making every effort to respond earnestly to this situation to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in the region.”

Testing is now available in the region, through efforts from YKHC and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). ANTHC yesterday announced the distribution of 40 rapid testing machines and 2,400 test kits for diagnosing COVID-19 throughout communities in rural Alaska. 

“Testing is confidential. Getting tested as soon as possible, when indicated by your provider, is one of the most effective, important ways to help one’s community in preventing the spread of this infection,” said Dr. Jacob Gray, Infectious Disease Physician at the Alaska Native Medical Center. “Practicing physical distancing and excellent hand hygiene will help prevent us from getting COVID-19, and being tested for COVID-19 can be very useful to the individual patient and the community.” 

Of the new cases reported for Monday, 12 are male and 10 are female. One case is an individual aged 20-29; five are aged 30-39; three are aged 40-49; seven are aged 50-59; four are aged 60-69; one is an aged 70-79; and one is an aged 80+. There have been 23 total hospitalizations and no new hospitalizations yesterday. A total of six Alaskans had died as of Monday. The death total changed to 7 by Wednesday's report.

There have been no new cases of COVID-19 in Ketchikan since April 1, 2020. The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Ketchikan remain at fourteen (14). Of these cases, two (2) individuals had a recent history of travel, and eleven (11) individuals were identified as having been in close contact with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19. However, the Alaska Dept. of Health reports three (3) travel-related cases for Ketchikan not two (2).

According to the Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC), all of the 14 cases in Ketchikan have recovered and are no longer being monitored by Public Health. The criteria for release from monitoring and isolation are:

• At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducting medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (such as cough, shortness of breath) and,
• At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared

163 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Ketchikan with the following results: 14 positive; 132 negative, with 15 tests still pending.

Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Zink, and the country's top medical expert on the Coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Fauci, encourage people to wear tightly woven homemade masks when they go out in public, but they both emphasize that this will not necessarily protect the wearer from being infected. Masks can provide a false sense of security for the following reasons:

• They aren’t foolproof; respiratory droplets are so small they can get through most fabric.
• Absolutely can’t replace good hygiene. Always wash your hands, don't touch the face, and practice social distancing.
• They cannot provide a seal around the nose and mouth, and their effectiveness is unlikely to be improved by face shields.

Scientific evidence indicates that asymptomatic and presymptomatic shedding of the virus that causes COVID-19 is occurring. This means that people who have no symptoms whatsoever may be infected with the virus and capable of transmitting the virus to others when interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing. This heightens the need for community-wide implementation of control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among people who are not experiencing symptoms of illness. The primary ways to do this are through social distancing, frequent hand-washing, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. Another tool that may help to minimize transmission while people are around others outside of their household is the use of face coverings. 

The Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) said because we are experiencing a nationwide shortage of medical supplies, including facemasks, it is recommend that Alaskans make their own face coverings and wear them in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) -- especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. This recommendation aligns with current national guidance: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-facecover.html 

The following measures are highly recommended for all Alaskans: 

• Wear a cloth face covering in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). 
• Make sure the face covering covers both the nose and mouth.
• Do not remove the face covering until you return home. 
• When removing the face covering, avoid touching the front of the face covering (because it may be contaminated). Remove it by grasping the ear loops, ties, or bands and immediately discard or place in a designated container for laundering. 
• Wash your hands immediately after removing the face covering and before touching anything else. 
• Wash face coverings in hot, soapy water between uses. 
• Do not wear N-95 or surgical masks; these are needed by health care workers and first responders. 
• Do not rely on face coverings as the primary way to prevent COVID-19 transmission, and be careful to avoid developing a false sense of security through the use of face coverings. 

On the Web: Stay informed

Alaska’s Response 

• Find more information about how to keep yourself and your family healthy at the DHSS webpage, coronavirus.alaska.gov
•  Visit the governor’s webpage on COVID-19 at gov.alaska.gov/covid19news
•  Visit ready.alaska.gov/covid19 on the Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management webpage for Unified Command information, community press releases and other documents. 
  
• Confirmed Cases, Recovered, Hospitalized, Deaths:
   coronavirus-response-alaska-dhss.hub.arcgis.com.

Ketchikan's Response:

• Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
  https://www.kgbak.us/913/COVID-19-Response

United States Response

•  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global Response

•  The World Health Organization guides the global response. 

Source of News:

Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
https://www.kgbak.us/913/COVID-19-Response

Alaska Dept. of Health & Social Services
www.dhss.alaska.gov

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