KETCHIKAN COMMUNITY COVID-19 RISK LEVEL REDUCED TO MODERATE
November 30, 2020
As of this morning, Ketchikan had no new positive COVID-19 cases since November 25th; however, later today one new case was reported.The number of community spread cases in the past seven days is two and the number of travel-related cases in the past seven days is three. The positivity rate (percentage of postivie test conducted) is currently at 1.19%. The one new case of COVID-19 reported in Ketchikan today sought testing at a local clinic due to experiencing symptoms. This person has been notified of the positive result and has been instructed to isolate. The source of the contact of the virus is under investigation. Based on these statistics, and considering the recommendations of Governor Dunleavy and the CDC guidelines, the Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center has lowered the Community Risk Level to Level 2 – Moderate.
Under Level 2: Moderate, the following health and safety precautions are recommended: • Public Health Social Measures: Strongly recommend masks and six (6) feet social distancing in communal settings and public locations with 20 or more people; • Businesses and Offices: Strongly recommend reduced capacity to ensure physical distancing including staggered schedules or teleworking, etc. • Bars, Restaurants, Personal Services, Gyms: Strongly recommend reduced capacity to ensure physical distancing; recommend reservations; encourage delivery or curbside pickup; personal services by appointment; no waiting areas; limit inside capacity to 50%. • Travelers: Follow Alaska Health Orders 6 and 8; quarantine until receive results of negative test; follow strict social distancing for minimum of five days after arrival.
Increase in Travelers is Cause for Concern: Although the number of positive cases has decreased to the point where the Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center can decrease the overall risk level, there has been an increase in travel and the risk of travel-related COVID-19 cases remains a concern. Many local families have college students and other family members coming home for the holidays. Other families are traveling to the Lower 48 or elsewhere in Alaska for the holidays and will be returning. The State of Alaska and many locations south remain in a High Risk Alert Level. With the increase in travel comes the increase risk of spread of COVID-19.
It is imperative for travelers to follow the quarantine and testing requirements in the Alaska Health Orders 6 and 8. The Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center strongly recommends that travelers go above these requirements and follow the CDC’s best practices for travelers, to ensure community health.
In order to remain at Level 2 and not increase to Level 3, Ketchikan residents need to be diligent in following all of the recommendations for health and safety precautions. As Ketchikan learned in October, one positive case can easily lead to a cluster of cases with far-reaching effects. The Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center encourages Ketchikan residents, visitors, businesses, and organizations to follow these recommendations for the health and safety of our community. By working together to protect ourselves and others, Ketchikan can reduce the spread and see the risk level lowered. Not all areas of the state are doing as well as Ketchikan is currently. For more information statewide go to www.covid19.alaska.gov.
On the Web:
Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews
Source of News:
|
||||||
