CASE COUNT

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

TESTING IN CORDOVA

As of 4/6/2020 there have been ten COVID-19 tests conducted in Cordova, with zero positive results. There is currently one test awaiting results. Between Cordova Community Medical Center and the Ilanka Community Health Center we have the capability to test approximately 300 people in Cordova at this time.

More tests have not been administered because individuals have not been sick enough to meet the CDC guidelines for testing. The amount of testing supplies, as well as the lab time to process tests, is limited within the community, state, and nation. We have requested more tests and are exploring every possible avenue to increase our testing ability in Cordova. An antibody test was considered for purchase by the City Council at an emergency meeting last week. Council referred the agenda item to staff to conduct further research on these antibody tests, or others like them and/or other avenues for acquiring them. We will update the public as soon as we learn of any changes regarding our ability to test.

The Incident Management Team, which collaborates with our medical professionals and emergency management teams around the state, feel that the curve has been flatter in Alaska and virus incidence has been fairly low because of the social distancing and other steps that the tribes, governments, businesses, organizations and individuals have put in place to protect themselves and their communities. We cannot emphasize enough how critical it is to continue these practices.

USE OF CLOTH FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC PLACES RECOMMENDED

On Friday, April 2, 2020, the State of Alaska announced a strong recommendation regarding the use of cloth face coverings. Scientific evidence available to date indicates that asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic shedding of the virus that causes COVID-19 is occurring. This heightens the need for community-wide implementation of control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among people who are not experiencing symptoms of illness. The primary ways to do this are through social distancing, frequent handwashing, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. Another tool that may help to minimize transmission while people are around others outside of their household is the use of face coverings. Because we are experiencing a nationwide shortage of medical supplies, including facemasks, we recommend that Alaskans make their own face coverings and wear them in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) — especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. This follows closely recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) which can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diycloth-face-coverings.html.

The following measures are highly recommended for all Alaskans:

• Wear a cloth face covering in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).
• Make sure the face covering covers both the nose and mouth.
• Do not remove the face covering until you return home.
• When removing the face covering, avoid touching the front of the face covering (because it may be contaminated). Remove it by grasping the ear loops, ties, or bands and immediately discard or place in a designated container for laundering.
• Wash your hands immediately after removing the face covering and before touching anything else.
• Wash face coverings in hot, soapy water between uses.
• Do not wear N-95 or surgical masks; these are needed by health care workers and first responders.
• Do not rely on face coverings as the primary way to prevent COVID-19 transmission and be careful to avoid developing a false sense of security through the use of face coverings. Continue to follow social distancing measures, including maintaining at least six feet between yourself and others, staying at home, avoiding touching your face, and washing your hands frequently. For more information and to view the entire State of Alaska Health Alert 10, please visit http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/SiteAssets/Pages/HumanCoV/SOA_04032020_HealthAlert010_ClothFaceCoverings.pdf.

CLOTH FACE COVERINGS IN CORDOVA

• Many individual volunteers have already begun producing home-made cloth face masks in Cordova that fit the guidelines above. If you are in need of a cloth face covering, an online sign-up form has been created to request a free cloth mask for your household members or employees at bit.ly/cdvmasksignup. On the form, you will be asked to indicate if your order includes anyone who is a worker of an “essential” business as listed in Alaska Mandate 10 or anyone who is considered high-risk. This fully volunteer effort is accepting donations of heavy-duty cotton or flannel fabric that is at least ½ yard in size. Please contact Emily Love at (503) 974-8197 if you are interested in donating to support this effort.

KEEPING CORDOVA INFORMED

• Daily Radio Updates: Starting last week, Mayor Clay Koplin and other members of the City of Cordova COVID-19 Incident Management Team began hosting a daily COVID-19 Radio Update. The program can be heard on KCDV-FM 100.9 and KLAM-AM 1450 at 1 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. every Monday-Friday. The short program will include frequently asked questions and answers; as well as pertinent local, state and federal updates on COVID-19 status and planning. Archived radio updates will be available at youtube.com/cordovatv.
• Frequently Asked Questions: A special FAQ Session will be broadcast weekly with questions and answers gathered from those sent to our cordovaprepared@yahoo.com email account. It will be aired on KLAM/KCDV Radio and archived on youtube.com/cordovatv.
• Weekly News Briefings: The City of Cordova’s COVID-19 Incident Management Team will be continue to host live-streamed Press Briefings each Friday at 4:00pm, streamed live and available in the archive afterward at youtube.com/c/cityofcordovaalaska.
• Infographics: The City of Cordova’s COVID-19 Public Information Team is developing a series of topical infographics, which are graphic visual representations of information, data and knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly. These will be released to the public as they are produced, and we invite the community to share them.

CORDOVA 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 your appointment.
• City Hall – available by appointment only between the normal hours of 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 your appointment.
• Harbor – Beginning Friday, March 20, the Harbor office will be closed to walk-ins. Payments can be made by mail or by phone Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Appointments can be made to purchase shower tokens in bulk. Shipyard services are also by appointment. Starting March 20, 2020, the Harbor Department will not be accepting mail or packages. If you have mail or packages being delivered to the Harbor Office, please make other arrangements.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – coronavirus.gov

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.