CASE COUNT: Wrangell currently has 0 active cases of COVID-19 in the community. As of today, the total case count for the state of Alaska is 52,393 cases. That’s an increase of 1,577 cases from last week.
As of today, 1,146 people have required hospitalization. That includes 31 new hospitalizations over the last week. And as of today, 251 Alaskans have died. Five of those deaths have occurred during the last week. For more data, you can visit the COVID data hub at covid19.alaska.gov. For local case information & resources, you can visit wrangellcovid19.org.
Most regions of Alaska continue to have high community transmission and are at high alert level. Even though Wrangell has not had an active case in a month, it’s still important for us all to continue to keep doing what we can to prevent the spread: wearing a mask, staying home when you are sick, delaying unnecessary travel, taking care of your health, keeping your social circle small, and washing your hands. This is important because we still have people traveling into our community from elsewhere in Alaska, and from outside of Alaska. As we have seen in neighboring communities, one infected person can easily result in a dozen cases, especially if we aren’t practicing the recommended mitigation measures. And nationwide, we are losing one person to COVID every seven minutes.
TRAVEL: If you have traveled recently, the state of Alaska is asking all Alaskans to get tested one to three days prior to travel, stay home for seven days after travel, and get a second test five to seven days after travel. Airport testing will continue to be in place through June 2021. By doing this, you can help slow the spread.
VACCINE: As of today, more than 68,000 Alaskans have received a COVID-19 vaccine. It is unknown whether vaccinated individuals might still be able to pass the virus on to others. So once you have received the vaccine, it is still important to follow the recommended mitigation measures.
All residents interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to register at covid19.searhc.org. It’s quick and easy – make sure to provide a valid email when you register, and you will receive email notification to schedule your appointment as soon as the vaccine is available for your sequence group. SEARHC is currently scheduling Wrangell residents age 65 and older and essential workers (as defined by the CDC). New clinics will be added as more vaccine supplies arrive. If you have any questions or cannot register electronically, please call the clinic at 874-4700 or call the SEARHC COVID Hotline at 907.966.8799.
TESTING: Asymptomatic testing remains available, but individuals will be required to cover testing fees at the time of testing. All patients must schedule an appointment to receive a test. This can be done Monday through Friday by calling the Clinic at 874-4700.
