Authorities in Ketchikan raised the community’s risk level to “moderate” on Wednesday due to an increase in COVID-19 cases that officials suspect are from community spread. Ketchikan’s Emergency Operations Center had put the risk level low since March 4.
But in a statement on Wednesday the ECO says the current positivity rate for people tested is 2%. A pair of new cases were detected bringing the total to 14 active cases as of Thursday morning.
Cases have also increased on Prince of Wales Island. Craig’s EOC announced three new cases on Wednesday, bringing the total count to eight. Half of those are in Craig and the others in small P-O-W communities.
Ketchikan’s ECO recommends:
- Wearing masks and maintaining six feet social distancing in communal settings and public locations with 20 or more people.
- For businesses and offices, reducing capacity to ensure physical distancing.
- That bars, restaurants, personal services and gyms reduce capacity, encourage delivery or curbside pickup and limit capacity to 50 percent
- That travelers follow Alaska health advisories, quarantine until negative test results are received, and follow strict social distancing for a minimum of five days after arrival.
Other recommendations include frequent handwashing and seeking testing if showing even mild COVID symptoms.
