CASE COUNT

City of Cordova COVID-19 Confirmed Positive Case Count: 0

PROCESSOR PLANS

The City of Cordova Incident Management Team continues to work closely with processors and local leaders in the commercial fishing industry to ensure compliance with state and city mandates, provide clarification on protocols, communicate local expectations, assist in planning of mitigation measures, and provide expert guidance from local healthcare professionals. All processors are submitting plans to the State of Alaska and City of Cordova detailing how they plan to quarantine all staff arriving from out of town for 14 days. Some plans may even include closing their campus to incoming and outgoing traffic altogether or keeping staff on premises for the entire season. Each processor also plans to transport new arrivals directly from the airport to their facility. While they will still be allowed to work during their quarantine, newly arrived staff will remain on property and separate from the local workforce during this time. Many processors are instituting health pre-screenings before potential employees board aircrafts to Cordova, and regular or daily health screenings including temperature checks while working. Additionally, the City of Cordova has clarified the following mitigation expectations: groceries and supplies for quarantined staff available by delivery only; social distancing of six feet must be exercised outside of work hours as per the city mandate; safety policy and procedures need to be in place for office, facility and contracted staff; create social distancing in the facility as much as possible; all employees need to be educated on social hygiene measures regarding COVID-19; clear signage regarding COVID-19 should be placed in common areas; protocol on reporting illness should be clear to all employees (Call CCMC or ICC immediately to report illness, providing time for staff to don PPE before arrival); cleaning procedures should be increased in all common areas; and isolation quarantine areas need to be set up and available on site for potentially ill workers.

MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS FOR FISHERMEN

Per Cordova Emergency Order 2020-2, all individual vessels/operators that wish to enter Cordova’s harbor must sign a Mutual Aid Agreement which identifies the measures taken by the City as well as protections provided by the operator to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amidst the operator’s employees and customers and within the Cordova community at large. It also binds the undersigned to agree to follow State and City mandates and orders including 14-day self-quarantine upon arrival, and to take responsibility for their crew to do the same. These agreements will be available in their entirety on the City’s website by Friday, April 3.

COMMERCIAL FISHING TASK FORCE

There are still many questions surrounding how to adequately communicate rules, protocols, best practices and guidance to the broader fleet of commercial fishers who enter Cordova annually. For this reason and to increase open two-way communication between those within Cordova’s commercial fishing industry and the City on COVID-19 related issues, the City of Cordova’s Incident Management Team has established a Commercial Fishing Task Force comprised of fishing industry leaders from Fishermen United, Copper River PWS Marketing Association, local processors, and Cordova citizens with knowledge and experience in the industry. This group will begin meeting regularly next week.

TIMING OF INFORMATION RELEASE

The City of Cordova Incident Management Team’s Public Information Team is composed of local, qualified personnel that are working diligently to share accurate, pertinent and easy-to-understand information with the public as often as is possible. Before information can be shared, it must be verified for accuracy and confirmed to be within our legal ability to share. It must also be clear and concise and composed in a way this is least likely to be misinterpreted. Then that information must be approved by incident command (and sometimes the City attorney) before it can be shared. If there has seemed to be a lag in our response to any questions or concerns, this is likely the reason. Accurate information and good planning take time. We are all in this together, and likely share a lot of the same concerns. Please work together with us to find the best possible solutions for Cordova. If you have specific questions, please send them to cordovaprepared@yahoo.com.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The CDC’s social distancing guidelines of at least six feet should be followed by all Cordovans, even those who do not feel sick. Cordova’s elderly and high-risk populations are encouraged to self-quarantine and ask for help getting groceries, medications and other essential items. Resources are available if you need help. As the state of Alaska Chief Medical Officer, Anne Zink, continues to state, the citizens of Alaska hold the future very much in their hands. How you choose to follow these mitigation measures now will help determine how long these measures must stay in place, how many Alaskans become infected, how many hospitals are overwhelmed, and how many people eventually succumb to this disease. Cordova does not yet have a confirmed positive COVID-19 case. Let’s keep it that way. Every person in town is responsible for doing their part and protecting themselves and others as if we do already have confirmed cases.

STOP THE SPREAD of COVID-19

1. Wash hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes and clean frequently touched surfaces.
2. Keep at least 6 feet away from others. Stay home and work from home as much as possible.
3. If you are sick with a respiratory infection (even with mild symptoms), if you are over 65 years old or if you are part of a vulnerable population, isolate yourself from others and call ahead if you need medical attention.
4. In accordance with Governor Dunleavy’s Health Mandates, remember that no gatherings may take place, regardless of group size.
5. Follow all health mandates and guidance issued by Governor Mike Dunleavy, DHSS, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and local governments and health authorities.
6. If you have flu-like illness or respiratory symptoms (dry cough, increased fever, persistent fever that stays above 100.3F, and/or shortness of breath), please CALL AHEAD before coming into a medical facility (this applies to emergency room and clinic visits).

City Facility Closures

• Cordova School District
• Cordova Public Library
• Cordova Historical Museum & Gallery
• Bidarki Recreation Center
• Bob Korn Memorial Pool
• DMV – available by appointment only between the normal hours of Tuesday through Thursday 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. until further notice. Only one person will be permitted in the DMV office at a time. Please call 424-6125 to schedule an appointment.
• City Hall – available by appointment only during regular business hours, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday starting Thursday March 19, 2020 until further notice. Utility payments may be dropped off in the drop box located near the exit of the upper parking lot. You may also contact the Finance Department regarding other matters at finance2@cityofcordova.net and finance3@citofcordova.net. Please call 424-6200 to schedule an appointment.
• Harbor – Beginning Friday, March 20, the Harbor office will be closed to walk-ins. Payments can be made by mail or phone 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. Appointments can be made to purchase shower tokens in bulk. Shipyard services also are by appointment. Starting March 20, 2020, the Harbor Department will not accept mail or packages. If you have mail or packages being delivered to the Harbor Office, please make other arrangements.

HEALTH-RELATED INFORMATION

Cordova Prepared is the comprehensive source for answers to any questions you have. Please do not call CCMC or the Clinic with COVID questions unless related directly to your health. We do not want to take time away from the important work of our medical providers. Please do send your questions to cordovaprepared@yahoo.com which goes directly to the City’s Public Information and Incident Management Teams.

WEEKLY NEWS BRIEFINGS

Moving forward, the City of Cordova’s COVID-19 Incident Management Team will be hosting live-streamed Press Briefings each Friday at 4 p.m. which will be streamed live and available in the archive afterward at youtube.com/c/cityofcordovaalaska.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please consult these resources for information:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – coronavirus.gov
• State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) – coronavirus.alaska.gov
• Dial 211 – The State of Alaska information line for non-clinical questions
• City of Cordova – cityofcordova.net

Let’s do our part and practice the CDC guidance to keep Cordova free of COVID-19 for as long as possible. Please take every precaution to care for yourself and loved ones. Updates will be posted regularly on the Cordova Prepared page of the City of Cordova Website and Facebook.com/groups/cordovaprepared. General local questions can be directed to cordovaprepared@yahoo.com.