Daily Sitka Sentinel

Bruhl Says Rapid Test Supplies Are Coming

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

Reports on testing supplies, transportation issues, medevacs and changing public sentiment on the COVID-19 response were brief topics of discussion at the weekly Unified Command meeting Wednesday afternoon at the fire hall.

Representatives from SEARHC, the city, emergency response, schools, public health and other entities provided updates.

“The situation has not changed,” City Administrator John Leach said. “We still have no cases in Sitka.”

The Department of Health and Social Services announced on Thursday seven new confirmed cases in Alaska - four in Anchorage, one in Kodiak and two in Juneau, bringing the state total to 300.

The mission of the Sitka group is to mitigate the spread, care for the sick, test and vaccinate, mitigate the economic impact, and inform the public.

Leach took note of the emergency ordinance passed Tuesday night by the Assembly, requiring companies to submit a plan for approval by the city administrator before bringing seasonal workers to Sitka. The city regulations are similar to those in state COVID Emergency Mandate 10.

The plans will be reviewed by the Unified Command, and require administrator approval, Leach said.

“We’ll get our eyes on them as well,” he said.

An audio recording of the Unified Command meeting was provided to the Sentinel for this story. The discussion portion of the meeting was not recorded.

Leach had an additional comment today, related to seasonal workers, the economic impacts of COVID mitigation measures, and the processors’ action plans.

“We understand the economic impact that COVID-19 has had on our local economy and are happy to work with our local businesses as much as possible to allow them to operate while ensuring the health and safety of our citizens,” he said. “Our local processors and businesses have been extremely cooperative in submitting their action plans to the City and Borough of Sitka addressing safety measures for seasonal workers.”

He said he and other officials expect the plans to improve over time, and a streamlined process is in place for submitting action plans to city leadership and the Sitka Emergency Operations Center for review.

Action plans may be submitted to the city at COVID-19.Action_Plans@cityofsitka.org for review.”

Dr. Elliot Bruhl, SEARHC vice president and chief medical officer, reported that the amount of testing supplies available in the state is increasing.

“So although we haven’t received significant increases in testing supplies we’re anticipating seeing a significant increase in our supplies through both the state and through Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium,” Bruhl said.

He note the capability of running several thousand tests a day, at ANTHC. Significant amounts of testing swabs also have been identified, he said.

“I’m looking forward to getting access to those which will allow us to be able to accommodate some new strategies with regards to some of our more vulnerable populations in nursing homes, long-term care centers, and potentially being able to broaden testing criteria,” he said.

Bruhl said supplies of Personal Protection Equipment for health providers have improved, with the arrival of a shipment of “many thousands of N95 masks” which are still being inventoried. There is also a good supply of surgical masks and disposable gowns, he said.

Bruhl said the consortium has over 1,500 test kits for COVID with more supplies on their way. The rapid testing machines have been provided to seven SEARHC clinical locations in Southeast.

The unified command group also heard about progress on planning for medevacs, the use of patient housing facilities for patients “under investigation” for COVID, and transportation of patients in the SEARHC system.

Bruhl also talked about the effect the rapid test facilities will have in Southeast.

“With these rapid test facilities, once we get them up and rolling ... it will allow us to characterize those patients hopefully prior to transport,” he said.

City Chief Finance and Administrative Officer Jay Sweeney reviewed the standards on what labor costs related to the virus emergency may be reimbursable through the FEMA declaration. Generally the reimbursable amount is the overtime rate for a regular employee, or a temporary employee, he said.

Sweeney asked those on the committee to keep an eye out for ways to increase emergency aid to Sitka.

“That’s just something to think about and to put in the back of your mind,” he said. “Is there a way to be able to legitimately leverage the FEMA support that is out there to bring some type of stimulus even in a small way to the community.”

Public Health Nurse Denise Ewing discussed her role on a statewide task force related to a seasonal worker mitigation project. Companies affected are those in fish processing, mining, and oil field work on the North Slope.

“Coming up with tools and tips to develop mitigation,” she said, adding that she’s been putting in substantial hours on that work.

She and Bruhl discussed some of the challenges of testing in remote communities, including those of 50 or fewer people.

Thor Christianson, the logistics section chief for the Unified Command, said the shipping of supplies to Sitka has become challenging. One airline won’t carry hand sanitizer because of the hazard of its high alcohol content, he said.

“We have 50 gallons trying to get up here,” he said.

Christianson said the hold times on his phone calls are increasing to suppliers, and internet orders are being delayed because of the emergency.

Maegan Bosak, SEARHC communications director, said she has been fielding a number of questions related to testing, and getting information out to the public.

She also has been keeping tabs on local and regional concerns.

“In regards to public sentiment, there has been changes on a nationwide basis and trickling into Alaska, seeming to be more vocal in wanting this to come to an end,” she said. “More so than we have seen ...”

In general, the response to the need for precautions has been positive, but “that is starting to change, substantially,” she said.