Positivity rate for coronavirus remains high in the Arctic December 24th, 2020 |
Over the last week on the North Slope, there were 89 reported new cases of COVID-19, three hospitalizations and one death due to the virus, according the Arctic Slope Native Association.
That brings the total number of hospitalizations to date to 28, and deaths to three. Active cases on the Slope hover above 100 a new normal for the month of December at 141, ASNA reported on Dec. 21.
The seven-day positivity rate on the Slope reached a fever pitch last week, with close to 10% of the population receiving tests coming back positive. That spike was likely due to holdover from Thanksgiving gatherings, according to health department Director Glenn Sheehan.
COVID-19 survivor asks North Slope residents to do their part December 24th, 2020 |
When Frieda Kaleak heard back from doctors that her 6-month-old infant had tested positive for COVID-19, her first reaction was fear. I was tearing up because she could have been the youngest patient here in town with COVID, Kaleak said. She said she was worried she d be separated from her still breast-feeding child if she needed to be medevaced for more advanced care. I m not sure how she had gotten it, I m not sure where. I did my part in staying home, sanitizing, washing my hands, disinfecting everything with what I had on hand at home.
Arctic health care workers among first to receive vaccine December 24th, 2020 |
Since COVID-19 shots arrived to the Arctic on Dec. 16, hundreds of health care workers and first responders have been vaccinated.
On the North Slope and within the Maniilaq Service area and across the state and country the phase one rollout of the two-dose shot includes vaccinating willing health care professionals, long-term care patients and first responders.
The COVID-19 vaccine in distribution is manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 11. The vaccine requires two shots, spaced apart by three weeks, and is between 90% to 95% effective in protecting against the virus, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Borough extends emergency declaration
On Dec. 14, the North Slope Borough assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the declaration of emergency in response to COVID-19 through the end of March 2021. The designation allows the borough to allocate funding to meet the needs of the community.
The same day, Mayor Harry Brower Jr. announced an extension of the emergency hunker down order in Utqiaġvik through Dec. 31. The hunker down order originally instated in September to curb the spread of the virus, and extended at least once a month since encourages local people to follow state guidelines to reduce large gatherings, wear masks in public and maintain 6 feet of distance from nonhousehold members. It also asks that nonessential workers remain home.