COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska explained

COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska
Map1:COVID-19 rolling 14day Prevalence in Alaska by county.svg
Map2:COVID-19 Prevalence in Alaska by county.svg
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Disease:COVID-19
Virus Strain:SARS-CoV-2
Location:Alaska, U.S.
First Case:Anchorage
Arrival Date:March 7, 2020
Confirmed Cases:290,515[1]
Hospitalized Cases:80 (Current)
Ventilator Cases:40 (current)[2]
Recovery Cases:3,042
Deaths:1,270

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the U.S. state of Alaska on March 12, 2020.[3]

On March 11, Governor Mike Dunleavy's office declared a state of emergency to ensure all entities have the necessary response resources.[4] The next day, the first case, a foreign national in Anchorage, was announced to the public.[5]

As of July 2022, 71.9% of the state has received at least one vaccine dose and 52.7% has received a booster shot.[6]

Impact

On March 21, 2020, Ketchikan, a small, coastal town of approximately 8,000 residents located in Southeast Alaska was determined to have a cluster of six COVID-19 cases. The town sheltered in place for the following 14 days.[7] On March 24, 2020, three more cases of COVID-19 were found in Ketchikan, bringing the total there to nine.[8] The next day, the total cases there reached 11.[9] On April 1, 2020, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Ketchikan rose to 14.[10]

Measures

In early March, Governor Mike Dunleavy activated the State Emergency Operations Center under Alaska's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.[11] Joint Task Force-Alaska was stood up to provide a coordinated effort for the Alaska Army and Air National Guard, the Alaska State Defense Force, and the Alaska Naval Militia to support the state.[12]

On March 13, Governor Dunleavy ordered public schools to close from March 16 to 30,[13] [14] which was later extended to May 1.[15] School districts were advised to find ways to use remote learning, but there was concern about the impact on the youngest students, special ed students, and small and remote areas where online learning is more difficult.[14]

On March 17, Governor Dunleavy announced the creation of the Alaska Economic Stabilization Team (AEST).[16]

Effective March 18, restaurants were restricted to take-out and delivery, and entertainment venues such as movie theaters and gyms were closed.[17]

Then Mayor of Anchorage Ethan Berkowitz issued an "emergency hunker down order" effective March 22.[15] Some businesses were closed in Fairbanks North Star Borough and Ketchikan Gateway Borough.[15] Some villages restricted air travel.[18] [19] Mike Dunleavy ordered everyone arriving in Alaska to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, effective March 25, with limited exceptions.[20] [21]

On May 19, Governor Dunleavy announced the lifting of all state mandates for businesses and public gatherings, keeping only a mandatory (but unenforced) quarantine period for persons coming from out of state.[22]

In June 2020, Dunleavy announced a new extension of the two week quarantine measure that would require travelers visiting the state to present a negative test of the virus if they are not willing to self-quarantine for two weeks.[23]

As part of the United States' vaccination campaign, Dunleavy announced in April 2021 that the state would offer free vaccinations to tourists at major Alaskan airports starting June 1.[24]

Remote communities

By March 22, some remote villages were attempting to isolate themselves.[25]

In the event of a COVID-19 case being identified in a remote community, the state plan is to transport the patient to a hub city for treatment rather than dispatching medical workers to the remote area.

Statistics

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 2020-04-01 . Alaska Coronavirus Map and Case Count . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-03-04 . 0362-4331.
  2. Web site: Hanlon. Tegan. Anchorage. Alaska Public Media-. 2021-10-04. Alaska's COVID hospitalizations, patients on ventilators climb over the weekend. 2021-10-07. Alaska Public Media. en-US.
  3. News: Alaska's coronavirus response has escalated as the number of cases has grown. Here's where things stand. . March 22, 2020 . Anchorage Daily News . March 22, 2020.
  4. Web site: Governor Issues Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration for COVID-19. Alaska Government. March 19, 2020. April 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200411085200/https://gov.alaska.gov/newsroom/2020/03/11/governor-issues-public-health-disaster-emergency-declaration-for-covid-19/. dead.
  5. Web site: First case of COVID-19 confirmed by Alaska State Public Health Laboratory is an international resident. Alaska Government. March 19, 2020. April 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200411085202/https://gov.alaska.gov/newsroom/2020/03/12/first-case-of-covid-19-confirmed-by-alaska-state-public-health-laboratory-is-an-international-resident/. dead.
  6. Web site: Alaska Department of Health and Social Services . 2022-08-04 . health.alaska.gov.
  7. News: Eric . Stone . Officials announce three more COVID-19 cases in Ketchikan . March 22, 2020 . KRBD via KTOO-TV. March 21, 2020.
  8. News: UPDATE: Ketchikan confirms 3 new cases of COVID-19 . March 24, 2020 . . March 24, 2020.
  9. Web site: Eric. Stone. Two new coronavirus cases bring Ketchikan's total to 11 . March 26, 2020. KRBD. March 26, 2020.
  10. Web site: Ketchikan COVID-19 cases rise to 14 after new diagnosis. April 1, 2020. KINY. April 1, 2020. April 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200411085205/https://www.kinyradio.com/news/news-of-the-north/ketchikan-covid-19-cases-rise-to-14-after-new-diagnosis/. dead.
  11. Web site: GALLERY: Alaska National Guard initiates proactive response to coronavirus pandemic . . 23 April 2020 . . 28 April 2020 .
  12. Web site: Proactive Posture and Partnership The formation of Joint Task Force-Alaska and its preparation to help tackle COVID-19 . LaCount . Seth . 17 April 2020 . . 28 April 2020 .
  13. News: Alaska officials close public schools to students through March 30 to limit spread of coronavirus . March 21, 2020 . Anchorage Daily News . March 14, 2020.
  14. News: Alaska's statewide school closure is beginning. No one knows quite how it will work. . March 21, 2020 . Anchorage Daily News . March 16, 2020.
  15. News: Hanlon . Tegan . Ruskin . Liz . Media . Alaska Public . State extends Alaska school closures as coronavirus count grows to 14 . March 21, 2020 . Alaska Public Media . March 20, 2020.
  16. Web site: COVID-19 Alaska Economic Stabilization Team – Mike Dunleavy. gov.alaska.gov. en-US. March 22, 2020.
  17. News: Ruskin . Liz . State bans restaurant dining as Alaska's confirmed coronavirus cases grow to 6 . March 21, 2020 . Alaska Public Media . March 18, 2020.
  18. News: Alaska villages to ban, restrict air travel amid coronavirus . March 21, 2020 . The Hour . March 21, 2020 . April 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200411085100/https://www.thehour.com/news/article/Alaska-villages-to-ban-restrict-air-travel-amid-15148159.php . dead .
  19. News: Alaska rural villages begin to ban or severely restrict air travel in hopes of slowing coronavirus . March 21, 2020 . Anchorage Daily News . March 20, 2020.
  20. Web site: COVID-19 Health Mandate . March 25, 2020 . July 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200714050934/https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/03232020-SOA-COVID-19-Health-Mandate-010.pdf . dead .
  21. News: Mazzei . Patricia . Bosman . Julie . Bogel-Burroughs . Nicholas . Governors Tell Outsiders From 'Hot Zone' to Stay Away as Virus Divides States . March 25, 2020 . The New York Times . March 25, 2020.
  22. News: Hanlon. Tegan. 'We're open': Alaska businesses can operate at full capacity on Friday, Dunleavy says. Alaska Public Media. May 19, 2020.
  23. Web site: You may have to provide a negative coronavirus test before you visit Alaska. June 19, 2020. Andy. Meek. Boy Genius Report.
  24. News: Alaska to offer tourists COVID-19 vaccines at major airports starting June 1. Becky. Bohrer. USA Today. April 17, 2021.
  25. Web site: Remote Alaska Villages Isolate Themselves Further in Effort to Shield Against Coronavirus. Hopkins. Kyle. March 22, 2020. ProPublica. en. March 22, 2020.

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