March 20, 2020

Session:

Capitol Building

Room 417

Juneau, AK 99801

(907) 465-4930

Interim:

1500 W Benson Blvd.

Room 328

Anchorage AK 99503

(907) 269-0174

As you know, the current Corona virus pandemic is an evolving issue, but I want to provide you with information on what we know about it and the best practices for you to keep yourself and loved ones safe.

COVID-19 Update

The World Health Organization has officially characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. President Trump has restricted travel to the U.S. from much of Europe, and Gov. Dunleavy has declared a public health emergency. I will continue to post periodic updates on the national and local developments of COVID-19. Officials in Alaska, and throughout the World are taking actions to curb the infection rate and avoid over stressing our medical systems. Please be aware that many state and municipal services are being limited or postponed.

COVID-19 In Alaska

On Thursday March 12, The Governor announced that Alaska had a positive test for COVID-19 in Anchorage. According to the Department of Health and Social Services, the person was an international cargo pilot and was treated at Alaska Regional Hospital. Alaska's chief medical officer believes that the individual took necessary precautions to avoid contact with others and is not a risk to our community. As of March 20th, Alaska has 13 confirmed cases.

Municipality of Anchorage

On Monday March 16th. Mayor Ethan Berkowitz announced that the following businesses will be closed from March 16 - March 31st.

Dine in restaurants.
Bars and breweries.
Gyms
Bingo halls
Theaters
All library branches
The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
The Anchorage Museum
George M. Sullivan Sports Arena
Ben Boeke and Dempsey/Anderson Ice Arenas
The MacDonald Center
All recreation centers: Mountain View, Fairview, and Spenard
Kincaid Outdoor Center (bathrooms will remain open to support outdoor recreation)
Lidia Selkregg Chalet (bathrooms will remain open to support outdoor recreation)
Mann Leiser Memorial Greenhouse
All municipal pools: Bartlett, Chugiak, Dimond, East , Service, and West

Anchorage School District

The Anchorage School District (ASD) will be closed until March 30th. All scheduled school days starting Monday, March 16th through Friday, March 27 will be teacher "non-contact days." Please contact the Anchorage School District for additional updates HERE.

University of Alaska

The University of Alaska has announced it will extend spring break, move classes to distance delivery, move students out of campus residence halls and cancel large campus events due to concerns about the worldwide spread of COVID-19.

Alaska Pacific University

Alaska Pacific University is moving classes online for the remainder of the academic term and canceling its spring commencement. Students who graduate in the spring will be invited to participate in the Fall 2020 commencement ceremony. Resident students have been asked to return home for the remainder of the academic term and the Moseley Sports Center and the Atwood gym will be closed to public use.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can vary in severity from mild symptoms to severe illness and death in confirmed cases of the disease. The following information comes directly from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 guidelines.

Mild Symptoms

Fever (100.4F or higher)
Sore Throat
Cough
Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

Severe Symptoms

Pneumonia
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Kidney Failure
Death

Emergency Warning Signs

Difficulty Breathing or Shortness of Breath
Persistent Pain or Pressure in the Chest
New Confusion or Inability to Arouse
Bluish Lips or Face

If you develop Emergency Warning Signs for the COVID-19 virus, get medical attention immediately.

What to do if you are sick?

Follow the steps below: If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected, follow the steps below to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community.

Stay Home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 can still spread the virus and should isolate at home during their illness. You should restrict activities outside of your home, except for getting medical care.
Avoid Public Areas: Do not go to work, school, or other public areas.
Avoid Public Transportation: Avoid using public transportation, ride sharing, or taxis.

To Seek Medical Attention

Seek medical attention: Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing).

Call Ahead Before Visiting Your Doctor

Call ahead: If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider's office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
Wear a face mask when sick: Put on a face mask before you enter the facility. These steps will help the healthcare provider's office to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected or exposed.
Alert health department: Ask your healthcare provider to call the local or state health department. Persons who are placed under active monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided by their local health department or occupational health professionals, as appropriate.

If you are at higher risk for serious illness

People at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider early, even if their illness is mild.

Testing

If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 or you are a resident in a community where there is ongoing spread of COVID-19 and develop symptoms of COVID-19, call your healthcare provider and tell them about your symptoms and your exposure. They will decide whether you need to be tested, but keep in mind that there is no treatment for COVID-19 and people who are mildly ill may be able to isolate and care for themselves at home.

Separate Yourself from Other People

and Animals in Your Home

Stay away from others: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
Limit contact with pets & animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19 just like you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus.
When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If you are sick with COVID-19, avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a facemask. See COVID-19 and Animals for more information.

If You Are Sick Wear A Face Mask

If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare provider's office.
If you are caring for others: If the person who is sick is not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with the person who is sick should not stay in the same room with them, or they should wear a facemask if they enter a room with the person who is sick.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue

when you cough or sneeze

Dispose: Throw used tissues in a lined trash can.

Clean your hands often

Wash hands: Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Wash hands: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
Soap and water: Soap and water are the best option if hands are visibly dirty.
Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid sharing personal household items

Do not share: You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home.
Wash thoroughly after use: After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

Clean all "high-touch" surfaces everyday

Clean and disinfect: Practice routine cleaning of high touch surfaces.
High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.
Disinfect areas with bodily fluids: Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
Household cleaners: Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.

Discontinuing Home Isolation

Stay at home until instructed to leave: Patients with confirmed COVID-19 should remain under home isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission to others is thought to be low.
Talk to your healthcare provider: The decision to discontinue home isolation precautions should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.

Coronavirus Precautions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should practice social distancing. Social distancing is the practice of putting distance between yourself and other people. COVID-19 can spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can be inhaled into the lungs, so maintaining social distance from others is an effective way of minimizing your chances of getting sick. In close contact, you should keep yourself six or more feet away from others. In general, you should avoid, as much as possible, time spent in public and in large gatherings.

CDC recommends avoiding large social gatherings of more than 10 people and going to public facilities. Large public gatherings such as sports events, concerts, festivals, conferences, receptions, fundraisers, etc. place people in a position of high-risk exposure to COVID-19. Around the country, local and state governments are temporarily closing public facilities. These facilities include restaurants, gyms, and bars. In Alaska, Anchorage has just announced that restaurants, gyms, and bars will be closing, so be sure you strategize supplies and resources for home and personal use including food, water, disinfectants, etc. While doing so, please take into account that many members of our community live paycheck to paycheck and may not be able to purchase large amounts of supplies at this time. Whether large social gatherings or public facilities have been closed or not, you should avoid them as much as possible.

If you feel sick, have been around someone who is sick, or live with someone who is sick, you should get tested immediately and take steps to begin self-quarantine. Symptoms from COVID-19 can go undetected for up to 14 days. Whether you are exhibiting symptoms or not, you unknowingly could be putting other people at risk of infection. CDC asks anyone with the potential of being sick to self-quarantine. Self-quarantine involves limiting socializing with other people and staying home instead of going to work or school. If you live with other people, you should do your best to stay in a separate room or living space. In the process of self-quarantine, if you exhibit any symptoms contact your doctor, local hospital, and/or health provider for professional advice on what to do.

Self-quarantine, wearing a facemask, washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and daily cleaning and disinfecting ensures that you minimize your risk of becoming infected or infecting other people.

Be Courteous and Considerate of our Friends and Neighbors in the Community.

If you go shopping in the next few days, please be considerate of all people in our community. Refrain from purchasing an excessive amount of groceries, cleaning supplies, or medicine. Many of our friends and neighbors live paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford to go shopping or stock up on critical goods and supplies at a moment's notice. The Port of Alaska and air cargo are functioning normally and access to food, supplies, and medication to Alaska continue as scheduled.

Please feel free to reach out to my office for any additional information.