Tribal Emergency Operations Center: 2.26.21 Update on COVID-19

Providing current news on the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) to protect the safety and well-being of Tlingit & Haida's citizens, clients, employees and communities.

CONTACT:

Tribal Emergency Operations Center (TEOC)

907.463.7368 ∙ communications@ccthita-nsn.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2021

Tlingit & Haida is committed to providing current information on the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to ensure all tribal citizens remain informed and have the resources needed to stay safe. Below is a brief update from Tlingit & Haida’s Tribal Emergency Operations Center.

Note: Due to the increase in cases statewide, certain areas of the State of Alaska's data entry are lagging far behind real-time. As a result, they have removed the active and recovered case counts from the data hub to prevent inaccurate or outdated information from being reported.

The total number of cumulative positive COVID-19 cases in Alaska as of yesterday is 58,293, including 102 new resident cases and 10 new non-resident cases reported. Of these cases, 52,375 are under investigation, 692 individuals had a recent history of travel and 5,226 were close contact, community or unknown. There has been a total of 1,277 hospitalizations, 249,115 vaccinations and 290 deaths. To view Southeast Alaska cases, case counts by high tribal citizen populations, and U.S. breakdowns, see below.

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever with symptoms, such as a cough or difficulty breathing, contact your local healthcare provider for medical advice.

*The Alaska COVID-19 data is derived from the Alaska Coronavirus Response Hub developed by the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. Alaska resident cases are reported by place of resident, and includes Alaskan residents diagnosed and isolated out-of-state. Non-resident cases are reported by place of diagnosis. Communities with fewer than 1,000 residents are combined at the borough/census area level to protect patient privacy. Counts by residency status and place are subject to change as additional information is collected during case investigations. Source: Alaska Department of Health and Social Services

SOUTHEAST ALASKA TOTAL CASES

Southeast Alaska Total Cases by Community:

There are 2,225 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Southeast Alaska including 1 new resident case reported in Juneau. Of these cases, 74 have been hospitalized and 10 deaths have been recorded.

Haines Borough: 27
Juneau City & Borough: 1,243
Ketchikan Gateway Borough: 362
Petersburg Borough: 85
Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area: 77
Craig: 10
Metlakatla: 11
Other: 56
Sitka City & Borough: 314
Skagway: 20
Wrangell City & Borough: 29
Yakutat-Hoonah-Angoon: 68

CASE COUNTS BY HIGH TRIBAL CITIZEN POPULATIONS

California*:

Confirmed Cases: 3,534,933
Deaths: 51,473
Vaccinated: 8,003,120

*Reported by the Los Angeles Times as of

1:21 PM (PST) on February 26, 2021.

Washington*:

Confirmed Cases: 319,498
Deaths: 4,942
Vaccinated: 1,411,453

*Reported by Washington State Department of Health as of 11:59 PM (PST) on February 24, 2021.

UNITED STATES CASE COUNT UPDATE

United States COVID-19 Cases:

Total Confirmed: 28,470,393*
Total Deaths: 509,710
Jurisdictions reporting cases: 55 (50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands)

*United States COVID-19 data is derived from an interactive dashboard developed by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at John Hopkins University that tracks the COVID-19 spread in

real-time. Data was pulled at 1:23 PM AKDT on February 26, 2021.

SAFETY TIP

COVID-19 Mask Requirements

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that people wear masks in public setting, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people. Effective February 2, 2021, masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other public transportation.

Make sure to choose masks that:

Have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric
Completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of your face without gaps
Have a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out the top of the mask

Do not choose masks that:

Are made of fabric that makes it hard to breathe, for example, vinyl
Have exhalation valves or vents which allow virus particles to escape
Are intended for healthcare workers, including N95 respirators

Please research your local municipality as mask rules and guidelines are subject to change.

RECENT NEWS & ALERTS

Update: Alaska House Republicans Name Lawmaker Who Tested Positive For COVID-19 — Alaska Rep. Mike Cronk tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. He announced the result on Thursday through a press release from the House Republican caucus. He began quarantining after receiving the results, and is experiencing mild symptoms. (Alaska Public Media)
Unscathed: These Alaska Villages Are Reaching Herd Immunity — Without A Single Case Of COVID-19 — For years, residents of the Southeast Alaska fishing town of Pelican decried cuts to state ferry service that left them increasingly isolated. (Alaska Public Radio)
The Coronavirus Is Plotting a Comeback. Here’s Our Chance to Stop It for Good. — Many scientists are expecting another rise in infections. But this time the surge will be blunted by vaccines and, hopefully, widespread caution. By summer, Americans may be looking at a return to normal life. (The New York Times)
House Set To Approve Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Package, Send Bill To The Senate — The House is expected to pass a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 stimulus package later Friday and send President Joe Biden’s relief plan to the Senate. (CNBC)
Positive Virus Tests Decline in N.Y., but Variants Loom — The number of New Yorkers testing positive for the coronavirus has declined precipitously since the peak of the holiday surge, but the state still has a long way to go. (The New York Times)

COVID-19 RESOURCES

It is imperative that our tribal citizens continue to hunker down and shelter in place, follow federal, state, tribal and local health mandates, and stay informed on the COVID-19 pandemic to keep ourselves and our families safe.

Tlingit & Haida's Tribal Emergency Operations Center (TEOC)

The Tribal Emergency Operations Center (TEOC) was created to enable Tlingit & Haida to provide timely, integrated, and coordinated responses to the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that addresses the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The activation of the TEOC is not due to any identified cases within the Tribe. All actions are aimed at protecting the safety and well-being of Tlingit & Haida’s citizens, clients, employees and communities.