SitNews: Significant Increase in COVID-19 Cases Brings Ketchikan & Saxman Risk Level to High Responsive action SHOULD be taken immediately By MARY KAUFFMAN

SitNews - Stories in the News - Ketchikan, Alaska

Significant Increase in COVID-19 Cases Brings Ketchikan & Saxman Risk Level to High

Responsive action SHOULD be taken immediately

By MARY KAUFFMAN

November 09, 2020
Monday PM

(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - With the increase in COVID-19 positive cases in the local area, last week the Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center increased Ketchikan's community risk level to HIGH indicating there is a significant threat to life or property due to the increase in the COVID-19 virus or Contagious Disease Outbreak. Citizens are asked to take responsive action immediately to protect their health.

While few positive cases (4) were reported in September, October saw an increase of 34 positive cases. From November 01 - November 9, a total of 66 positive cases have been reported. Of the hospitalizations, as of today, there were no new hospitalizations reported today, and two of the previous four hospitalized individuals have been discharged. Two individuals remain hospitalized.

Today’s cases bring the cumulative Covid-19 case count, including travelers, to 171. The number of positive cases of individuals residing or staying in Ketchikan is 159. Of the 159 cases, 74 are still active, and 85 have recovered. (Case reports are provided daily by the Ketchikan EOC and can be found online at https://www.kgbak.us/913/COVID-19-Response -- scroll down to media releases to read the full reports.)

Today, there were 10 new positive cases reported. Saturday there were 12, Friday there were 11, Thursday there were 6, Wednesday 7 new positive cases were reported, 10 were reported on Tuesday, and 6 last Monday. There have been 22,682 test administered since March. Currently there are 90 test pending results.

Local mayors representing the City, Borough and Saxman reached out to the public addressing the substantial increase in COVID-19 positive cases asking for cooperation from the community in flattening the curve.

Rodney Dial, Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor said in a prepared statement, "Throughout the pandemic the community has pulled together and we have done remarkably well protecting public health while minimizing the impacts to our economy and quality of life. Unfortunately, due to a recent increase in cases the community has moved to level 3, the High-Risk Level. The response from the business community has been remarkable as many have taken extra precautions such as reducing capacity to less than 50%, and redoubling social distancing and sanitation procedures. In addition, we are asking that all bars close to help us gain control of our outbreak. Failure to stem the growth of cases at this point, could lead to greater restrictions on our businesses in the future…something we all want to avoid. Remember the goal… keep the curve flat, to keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed. This is best way to keep people safe and keep our economy open. Thank you for leading the way Ketchikan, stay strong."

Frank Seludo, City of Saxman Mayor released a prepared statement saying, "Our community has had many positive Covid-19 cases recently with four hospitalizations. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these people and their families. Let’s slow down the spread of Covid-19 by taking some extra steps to stay healthy. I am asking our families to stay in their own homes and keep a safe distance from people not in your household. If someone in your household is sick with Covid-19, please take measures to keep that person isolated to their own room if possible, and to sanitize regularly. Take advantage of grocery and restaurant delivery and pick up options. Check on each other through phone calls and video chats. Thank you for working to keep our community safe. We will get through this together."

Bob Sivertsen, City of Ketchikan Mayor, also released a prepared statßßement saying, "We have had a substantial increase in COVID-19 cases on our island and it is a serious concern. I want to urge all of our citizens to join me in following the EOC’s recommendations so we can get back to a low case count instead of climbing to a higher risk level. Please stay home if you are sick. If you are a close contact to a positive case, you need to quarantine for 14 days – no exceptions. If you are healthy and are not required to quarantine, please stay home except for essential services. By wearing masks when we do have to be out in public, we can all do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19. I am urging everyone to follow these recommendations so we can maintain and even reduce our risk level. I am positive that we can work together to reduce our cases in Ketchikan, and I appreciate all the hard work you are doing."

What does the change in Risk level to High mean?

Recommended Changes to Businesses and Organizations are as follows:

Strongly recommend masks and social distancing be enforced in communal settings and public locations with 5 or more people. If six-foot distancing is not possible, then mask should be worn.
Strongly recommend businesses encourage telework to the maximum extent possible, reduce capacity to ensure physical distancing can be maintained not to exceed 50% capacity; close shared spaces such as break rooms, kitchens, etc.
Strongly recommend bars closed, restaurants reduce capacity to 50% and ensure physical distancing with reservations required. Delivery or curbside pick encouraged.
Personal services (nail and hair salons, massages, etc.) appointments only with one customer per each service provider. No waiting areas.
Gyms-no group activities and limit capacity to 25%.
Indoor gatherings limited to fewer than 20 individuals.
Outdoor gatherings limited to fewer than 30 individuals.
Modified Healthcare services (telemedicine, essential care, chronic care)
Stop non-essential visits to Pioneer Home, Jail, Youth Center, WISH.

How does this affect the School District?

Superintendent Lougee has scheduled an Emergency school board meeting last week in the Ketchikan High School i Library to obtain approval from the board for a change in the Smart Start level from low to medium, based on the change in the community’s risk level. The proposal was as follows: no change to Elementary schools and KCS middle school, as measures have already been in place for limited class sizes and other health and safety measures. The change would take the secondary schools (Schoenbar, Revilla, Kayhi) to the 50% blended learning option. More information on the school district

After being out of school all last week due to quarantining, there are no new close contacts to these individuals who has tested positive and the plan was for district schools to remain open on November 9, 2020, under their medium risk plans announced last week. Parents can stay informed by visiting the district's website. The district plans to continue to keep parents updated should something change. (For the COVID Medium Risk Level Plans for Each School go to https://www.kgbsd.org/Domain/80 )

In a letter to parents last week, School Superintendent Beth Lougeee said the district needs the community’s help to protect against COVID-19. "Please follow all safety and health guidelines, listen to our community leaders and continue working with the schools and district as we all work together in the best interest of our students and community."

For the most current information from the Ketchikan School District's Smart Start plan can be found at https://www.kgbsd.org/ .

City of Ketchikan and KPU Changes:

All City of Ketchikan and KPU facilities will be closed to the public effective 8 am Thursday, November 5, but services will still be available via phone and email.
KPU Customer Service can be reached at 228-5474, or cserv@ktn-ak.us; a table in the Plaza Mall is available for forms, and payment drop boxes can be found in the ATM area of the Plaza Mall, at A&P Grocery and at the City Hall back door near the Council Chamber entrance
City Hall switchboard can be reached at 225-3111, drop boxes for payment are located at the City Hall back door, near the Council Chamber entrance.
Ketchikan Emergency Service including Police and Fire will continue to operate at full capacity.

Ketchikan Gateway Borough Changes:

The White Cliff Building will remain open to the public, with the following measures in place:

All public meetings will be held electronically. ( Agendas- Meetings Scheduled --- Meeting Videos - Live and Archived )
Masks required for the public and staff.
Reduction of in-person staff; telecommuting encouraged.
Citizens are encouraged to conduct business over the phone or Internet. Visit www.kgbak.us for services.
Gymnasiums, racquetball courts, locker rooms, and sauna will be closed.
Open swims, swim lessons, group activities, league sports, spectators will be canceled. No loitering will be allowed.
The following activities would be limited to 25 percent capacity: track, weight room, cardio room, children's room, lap swim (one individual per lane).

The Borough Transit Bus Program will be adjusted as follows during Level 3:

Bus capacity will be limited to 10-15 riders at one time. That is 10 individuals or up to 15 if people riding together (such as couples or parents with children or individuals that share a household). If a bus has 10-15 riders, it will not pickup additional passengers until someone exits. Consider taking an earlier bus to ensure you will make it to work on time. Avoid peak travel times 7 to 8 am, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm and 4 to 6 pm.
Paratransit capacity will be limited to 3 riders at one time.
With these capacity limits, riders should only use public transit for essential trips, such as healthcare, appointments, employment, grocery shopping.
Fare collection will be suspended
Riders will be asked to board and exit from the rear doors and face coverings will be required prior to boarding and riding public transit or paratransit.
Social distancing shall be maintained while waiting to board the bus and while on-board the bus.

North Tongass and South Tongass Volunteer Fire Departments:

Canceled all in-person training and drills as well as public meetings.
The front doors of STVFD will be locked.

The Pat Wise Animal Shelter:

Volunteer program suspended.
All members of the public will be required to wear a mask. One individual or a group of no more than three will be allowed at any one time.

The City of Saxman Changes:

The City of Saxman facilities have implemented the following measures for Level 3:

Saxman City Hall is closed to the public with staff in rotating shifts.
Citizens are encouraged to conduct business over the phone by calling 225-4166.

On the Web:

Current information on the response to COVID-19 in Ketchikan, including additional data regarding Ketchikan’s community risk, is provided at www.kgbak.us/covid19

Information on COVID-19 is available through the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) at www.covid19.alaska.gov

Representations of fact and opinions in comments posted are solely those of the individual posters and do not represent the opinions of Sitnews.

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