(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reported 63 individuals participated in the drive-up testing clinic held on May 27 and 28.  Each person tested will receive notification from a health care provider with the test results - either positive or negative - as soon as the results are received. 

With the ongoing demand for COVID-19 testing, the Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will continue to provide a free drive-up clinic each Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Berth 3. 

The testing is conducted by health care providers from Creekside Family Clinic, Ketchikan Public Health, and PeaceHealth Medical Center.

The weekly free testing clinic is offered to symptomatic individuals as well as certain asymptomatic individuals. Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) encourages anyone with any of these symptoms to seek testing:

Cough, chills, difficulty breathing, diminished sense of taste or smell, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, headache, muscle/joint aches, nausea/vomiting, rash, runny nose, or sore throat.

In addition to individuals with any symptom consistent with COVID-19 Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) encourages the following self-identified asymptomatic individuals to seek testing:

• Anyone 65 years and older
• Anyone who lives in a nursing home or long-term care facility
• People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well-controlled, including:
•  People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
• People who have serious heart conditions
•  People who are immunocompromised 
• People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
• People with diabetes
• People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
• People with liver disease
• Anyone working with or caring for a member of a vulnerable population, such as listed above
• Any healthcare worker or first responder, regardless of field (EMS, Dental, clinic, hospital, etc)
• Anyone who has recently traveled outside of Ketchikan (in or out of state)

Pre-test screening will occur on site, or people can be screened in advance by calling 247-TEST. 

To participate in the testing:

• Wear a mask or face covering
• Adults will need to have a current photo i.d.
• One household per vehicle
• Screening and testing is performed in the safety of your own vehicle

Cars will turn onto the Berth at the traffic signal at the Dock and Front Street intersection, then proceed north toward the Berth 3 pavilion. Signs will mark the location.  Follow the orange cones provided that will direct traffic flow to the test table. You will not have to get out of your car. The test will be conducted by local health providers who are following health and safety protocol. 

The total number of positive case counts in Ketchikan still remains at 16. The last reported positive case was on April 20, 2020. All 16 have recovered.

As of May 29th, 1,317 tests have been conducted with 1,189 negative results. 112 tests are pending results. 9.5% of the Ketchikan population has been tested.

On the Web:

Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) information and the response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Ketchikan is updated daily on the COVID-19 Response page at https://www.kgbak.us/913/COVID-19-Response. 

Alaska COVID-19 Daily Updates - Case Counts, etc. and
 www.covid19.alaska.gov

All Alaska Health Mandates: COVID-19 Health Mandates, Office of the Governor

 

Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

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

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