The following information was updated at 4:10 pm on 2/17/21 to reflect the updated information from Wrangell’s Unified Command at 3:30 pm that two new confirmed COVID-19 cases have been identified in Wrangell. Both individuals recently traveled outside Alaska, both are residents and were traveling together. Both individuals have been in quarantine since arriving in Wrangell and have only had contact with each other. Both are asymptomatic.
CASE COUNT: Wrangell currently has zero active cases of COVID-19 in the community. As of today, the total case count for the state of Alaska is 56,977 cases. That’s an increase of 880 cases from last week. As of today, 1,199 people have required hospitalization. That includes 10 new hospitalizations over the last week. And as of today, 288 Alaskans have died. Nine of those deaths occurred during the last week. The northern Southeast Alaska Region, which includes Wrangell, remains in the state’s low alert level. You can visit the data hub at data.coronavirus.alaska.gov. For local case information & resources, you can visit wrangellcovid19.org.
EMERGENCY DECLARATION: The State Emergency Declaration that we have been under has expired. Some of the tools to prevent the spread and provide services have gone away. The State continues to find ways to provide some of the services and will continue to be a resource in our efforts to respond to and recover from the pandemic. All Health Mandates have changes to Health Advisories. The four Advisories cover: Recommendations for Keeping Alaskans Safe, International & Interstate Travel, Intrastate Travel, and Critical Infrastructure. You can review these advisories at covid19.alaska.gov. Questions can be sent to travel@wrangell.com.
TRAVEL: Even though the Travel Mandates are no longer in effect, the state is strongly recommending all Alaskan travelers to get tested 1-3 days prior to travel, stay home for 7 days after travel, and get a 2nd test 5-7 days after travel. If you have guests traveling to Wrangell, please encourage them to follow the travel requirements. All incoming travelers can now get tested for free at the airport (even non-residents). Testing during travel is important to ensuring the variants do not enter and spread within Alaska.
Even though the State travel mandate is no longer in place, all travelers awaiting, boarding, disembarking, or traveling on airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares are required to wear a face mask according to a federal order that went into effect on February 1. This applies to travel into, within, or out of the United States and U.S. territories. People must also wear masks while at transportation hubs (e.g., airports, bus or ferry terminals, train and subway stations, seaports) and other locations where people board public transportation in the United States and U.S. territories.
VACCINE: All residents interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to register at covid19.searhc.org. Please provide a valid email when you register, and you will receive an email notification to schedule your appointment. SEARHC is currently scheduling any Wrangell resident that is old enough to receive the vaccine. Please pass this info along to your family, neighbors, and friends. 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.
As of today, 840 Wrangell residents have been vaccinated, that’s an increase of 111 from last week. Almost 500 of those individuals have completed the 2-dose series. Since it is unknown whether vaccinated individuals might still be able to pass the virus on to others, it is still important for everyone to follow the recommended mitigation measures such as: 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.
TESTING: Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing is available, but individuals are required to cover testing fees at the time of testing. If you have symptoms, it is important to seek testing as soon as possible. Both asymptomatic and symptomatic testing can be arranged by calling the Clinic Monday through Friday at 874-4700. If you have been vaccinated, but are experiencing symptoms, it’s still important to get tested.
