COVID-19 Alaska Daily Clinical Update, May 7

Alaska Department of Health sent this bulletin at 05/07/2020 06:56 PM AKDT

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Thursday, May 7, 2020
Liz Conway Ohlsen, MD
With information from Anne Zink, MD, FACEP, Alaska Chief Medical Officer

 

May 7 Epi Curve

Alaska public health news: Fewer than 1.7% of AK tests are positive, decreased from around 3.4% in late March, likely because we are increasing testing faster than cases are increasing. The national percentage of respiratory specimens positive for SARS-CoV-2 is around 15%. Continuing to increase testing will be critical as Alaska reopens.


National public health news: Total known US cases: 1,216,739 (2% increase); 72,233 deaths (3% increase) according to the   Johns Hopkins University tracker, which aggregates local, state and national data. There are now 3.7 million COVID-19 cases diagnosed worldwide and  a quarter million confirmed deaths- around 7% of the total confirmed cases.

 

A recent discussion in NEJM concerns health disparities and access to telemedicine. As many primary care and specialty offices move all or in part to telemedicine, this article challenges us to consider the effects on patients who have limited digital access, limited digital literacy, language barriers or health problems making video communication more difficult. Authors describe using medical students and available staff to contact patients prior to the visit to walk them through setting up a video application and creating video tutorials in different languages. They also note that libraries, community-based organizations and patient advocacy groups may have experience in digital literacy training and could be good community partners. 

 

CDC updated guidelines May 6 for infection control in correctional and detention facilities. They also released a clarification that crew members from cruise ships in US waters may return home if cruise lines attest that they comply with requirements for disembarkation. 

The FAQ on infection control for healthcare workers as well as the general COVID-19 FAQ that covers topics from risk calculation/special risk groups to waste management has also been updated.

 

 

 

 

DHSS launched a hotline to support Alaska's first responder community with behavioral health professionals, who will be available by phone 24/7 at 1-844-985-8275.

 

ECHO series updates:

Use the links below to register beforehand for the online meeting

COVID-19 for Alaska Healthcare Providers: Tuesdays, 7-8:30PM

Healthcare Specific COVID-19 Situational Awareness: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12-1PM

Alaska Perinatal ECHO: Every other Thursday beginning 5/7/20, 7-8PM

Palliative Care in COVID-19 ECHO: Wednesdays, 12-1PM

EMS ECHO: Thursdays, 10-11AM

Dental ECHO: Every other Wednesday beginning 5/13/20, 3:30-4:30 PM

 

AK Clinical Reminders:

COVID-19 testing guidelines and  testing site locator

Report any positive test to the state Section of Epidemiology using the COVID Reporting Hotline at 1-877-469-8067 or by faxing in the Infectious Disease report form. If you suspect COVID-19 in an outpatient who cannot isolate in their own home (for example they are unsheltered or from out of town) or for another urgent situation call SOE at 907-269-8000 or 800-478-0084 (after-hours).

AK COVID-19 clinical information hotline for physicians: 883-751-4212. Staffed 24/7. 8PM-8AM is for urgent/emergent questions only.