As state works to boost healthcare provider capabilities, coronavirus case total rises to 147

Along with an update on coronavirus cases in Alaska, state officials discussed projections for the future and the latest in tools and equipment being used by local healthcare providers Thursday evening. Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink appeared by teleconference and Gov. Mike Dunleavy appeared in person. Department of Health and Social Services' state counts, officials said, show the state of Alaska has 147 total reported cases of the new coronavirus. Three new cases were reported since last checking with the CDC, all individuals out of Fairbanks. The early March death of a Petersburg man living in Washington State was also only just now added to the total. Thirteen people total have been hospitalized due to complications from coronavirus since Jan 1. "We have the fewest cases per state," Zink said, "and we want to keep it that way, and keep it as low as we can."
KTUU-TV NBC 2 Anchorage

Alaska Unified Command prepares for rural Alaska COVID-19 response

As Alaskans adapt to the changes mandated to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, state emergency leaders are implementing a plan to ensure health care services in rural Alaska are able to respond to the pandemic. A Unified Command has been established and is staffed by workers from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Public Safety. A spokesperson for the group said that the mandates issued by the governor to maintain social distancing, not travel to other communities, and quarantine after arriving from out of state can benefit both rural and urban areas. “One benefit that we have here in Alaska is because the geographic distance between our communities is so great, that if take these additional social distancing steps and abide by the mandates that have been put in place," said Jeremy Zidek, public information officer for the Joint Command, "then we’re really going to see some good impacts down the road and that’s going to be the transmission between communities isn’t going to be as great as it could if we didn’t abide by the mandates."
KTUU-TV ABC 2 Anchorage