Statewide COVID-19 Communications: June 5 update for partners

Alaska DOH sent this bulletin at 06/05/2020 04:21 PM AKDT

Travel to Alaska

Community partners:

Thank you for all your hard work, coordination and patience with what has been a very fluid and challenging environment the last few weeks. Please find below updates, links and contact information for topics we've been discussing recently, including mandates, large gatherings, testing, case counts, the AK CARES grant program, and more. If you have questions or would like something included in the next update, email items to elizabeth.manning@alaska.gov or kathleen.griffith@alaska.gov with the subject: COVID-19 Week in Review. 

Health Mandate 10 on International & Interstate Travel revised June 3

Governor Dunleavy announced that on June 6 at 12:01 a.m., under Health Mandate 10, Alaska will remove the quarantine requirement for travelers who can show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result obtained 72 hours prior to departure (or within five days as long as a second test is done upon arrival in Alaska). Other travelers will have the option to be tested on arrival (subject to test availability), or they may instead adhere to the 14-day quarantine. A voucher will be provided for a follow-up test 7-14 days after arrival in Alaska to ensure travelers are in the clear. Much more information can be found through the links below:

Health Mandate 18 on Intrastate Travel revised June 5

On June 5, Health Mandate 18 on Intrastate Travel was updated to permit travel to communities located off the road system, however communities may enact local travel restrictions of their own. This revision was made to provide flexibility to local communities off the road system to make their own decisions about when to open to travelers.

Questions about mandates

Please be aware that the mandates and supporting documents are being updated frequently so check back often.

Large gatherings guidance issued

Every large event or gathering should develop a plan to mitigate risk. The State of Alaska won't be formally approving those plans but the DHSS Division of Public Health will provide an advisory role to event planners and communities. Several online webinars for event planners will be offered to provide advice and connect planners with each other. Event planners should always consult with the communities where their event is a happening and engage with community leadership.

DHSS Division of Public Health issued an advisory document for large gatherings and community events on May 29 and the Play Every Day Program published a blog post on June 4 addressing questions many people in our communities may be having about getting together in groups and how to do that safely.

For more information about this topic contact:

Karol Fink, MS, RDN | State of Alaska
State Contact for Large Gatherings and Events during COVID-19
907.269.3457 | Karol.Fink@Alaska.gov

Testing

Eric Mooring recommends that we remove as many barriers as possible to testing, so asks communities, providers, hospitals and clinics to evaluate their websites and provide clear and easy to understand information that let's people know they should seek testing even if they have mild COVID-19 symptoms and how to get that testing. Cast a broad net, not just the big three symptoms everyone is familiar with, so include information on the full breadth of symptoms identified by CDC.

Please share your testing site locations with michelle.torres@alaska.gov at Unified Command.

AK CARES Grant Program

The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) have partnered with Credit Union 1 to provide relief to small Alaska businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, through the AK CARES Grant Program. Credit Union 1 is the program facilitator for AK CARES.

Case count summary for May 29 – June 4

Alaska cases: 95
Communities involved: Anchor Point, Anchorage, Big Lake, City of Kenai, Eagle River, Homer, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Nikiski, Palmer, Soldotna, Wasilla
Cases of note: Outbreak at Providence Transitional Care Center in Anchorage, members of Nikiski Fire Department, McLaughlin Youth Center resident
Total as of June 4: 524

Nonresident cases: 24
Communities involved: Bristol Bay Borough, Dillingham Census Area, Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Municipality of Anchorage, Aleutian West Census Area, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Kodiak Island Borough
Cases of note: Outbreak in Whittier at fish processing facility, first cases in Unalaska
Total as of June 4: 43

Hospitalizations: 1
Total as of June 4: 48

Deaths: 0
Total as of June 4: 10

Recovered cases: 14
Total as of June 4: 380

Total active cases as of June 4: 134

Total tests completed as of June 4: 60,990

Data dashboard is available at coronavirus-response-alaska-dhss.hub.arcgis.com

Please note: These summaries may differ from the data dashboard as dates, residences and other data points for the cases are adjusted over time based on interviews conducted during contact tracing. The information above is compiled from DHSS’ daily case count press releases.

DHSS COVID-19 website redesigned

The COVID-19 section of the DHSS website has been redesigned with a more approachable and user-friendly look and feel. It’s now organized into these major sections:

  • Action to take to protect yourself and others
  • Where to find the latest updates
  • Data and maps dashboard
  • Additional resources for the public
  • Resources for health care professionals
  • Who to call for additional questions

Visit it online at: dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/

Bookmark these handy online DHSS resources

Check these pages and social media accounts for recent updates, as well as messages and graphics you can share with your communities:

 

Alaskans Stand Together 6 Ft. apart

Alaskans Stand Together 6 Ft. Apart
Illustration by Ellen Devine, DHSS Public Information Team, ellen.grover@alaska.gov