A Haines man who recently tested positive for COVID-19 had a number of social contacts. That’s prompted local bars to close their doors.
The Haines Emergency Operations Center reported on Friday that the most recent confirmed case of COVID-19 was a man who had “been in the community.” Previous cases haven’t had that note.
“I think that we got a lot of responses from people who had been contacted directly by him,” said Borough Clerk and EOC spokesperson Alekka Fullerton.
“And so they just felt like it needed to be more clear that he has been out in the community before he knew that he tested positive.”
She said the local man was proactive about notifying his contacts. The “in the community” distinction was to let people know that he had been social in town.
That prompted local bars and tasting rooms to voluntarily close their doors until further notice. There are no formal shelter-in-place orders or mandated non-essential business closures. Fullerton says it’s that kind of individual responsibility that’s necessary as case numbers surge statewide.
Contact tracing is complete for the Haines case, but not every close contact will get a call from the state. Previously, the state’s public health department would notify each close contact of known cases. But Public Health nurse Elaine Hickey says there are too many cases for health workers to do that any longer.
“Not necessarily every single individual contact is notified,” she said.
“Index cases are highly encouraged to make those connections and notify their contacts.”
Index cases are people with confirmed positive COVID-19 tests. What she’s saying is that it’s up to individuals to notify their close contacts—like the man in Haines did—because public health nurses and contact tracers are overwhelmed with cases. But Hickey said public health will always reach out if they know a contact is in a high risk category.
“If it’s deemed that there are high risk contacts, meaning people [in a] vulnerable population, or with underlying conditions, things like that, that someone could be at greater risk, they will be outreached and called,” Hickey said.
The Haines Borough EOC asks that residents practice social distancing, wear masks, wash hands often, and sanitize frequently touched surfaces.
Asymptomatic testing is available for free on the weekend at the SEARHC Haines Health Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary.
Those displaying COVID-19 symptoms can call the SEARHC Haines Health Center at 766-6300 to set up an appointment for a test. Symptoms can include – cough, chills, difficulty breathing, diminished sense of taste or smell, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, aches, nausea, rash, runny nose, sore throat, or increased phlegm.
There have been four resident cases of COVID-19 in Haines and four non-resident cases.
There will be an EOC Town Hall meeting on Thursday, July 30th at 5:30 p.m.
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July 28, 2020 at 07:44AM
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Haines bars close after a local man tests positive for COVID-19 - KHNS Radio
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