*** SPECIAL EDITION ***

LOCAL SOURCES FOR COVID-19 UPDATES & INFO

STATE OF ALASKA UPDATES
RESTAURANTS TO CEASE DINE IN SERVICE

** COVID-19 MANDATE 3.1 **

Issued: March 17, 2020

By order of the Governor, beginning March 18 at 5 p.m., and continuing until April 1 at 5 p.m., the following mandates are in effect:
With the goal of minimizing in-person interaction in enclosed spaces, effective March 18 at 5 p.m. all bars, breweries, restaurants, food and beverage kiosks or trucks, and other establishments serving food or beverages within the State of Alaska shall be closed to the public dine-in service. All buffets and salad bars are closed to self-service. A copy of this order, or a sign communicating the closure information, shall be prominently posted by the person having control of the establishment.

Places of public accommodation are encouraged to offer food and beverage using delivery service, window service, walk-up service, drive-through service, or drive-up service, and to use precautions in doing so to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19, including social distancing.

In offering food or beverage, a place of public accommodation subject to this section may permit up to five members of the public at one time in the place of public accommodation for the purpose of picking up their food or beverage orders, so long as those individuals are at least 6 feet apart from one another while on premises.

All entertainment facilities shall be closed to the public, including theaters, gyms and fitness centers, bowling alleys and bingo halls.

CLICK HERE for Press Release
 

STATE TRAVEL MANDATES & GUIDELINES

**COVID-19 HEALTH MANDATE 4.0 **

Issued: March 17, 2020

Higher Risk: If you have traveled from an area with widespread, ongoing community spread such as Europe, China, and other countries (i.e., a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice Area) and are entering Alaska within the past 14 days you must:

• Stay home and avoid contact with other household members
• Contact your employer and do not go to work or school for this 14-day period after you return.
• CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice Area - China, Iran, South Korea, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City.

Medium Risk: If you have traveled anywhere outside of Alaska, (including the rest of the United States) within the past 14 days you must:

• Keep your distance from others (about six feet or two meters)This may mean not going to work or school if you cannot safely be distanced from others – especially if you traveled in a location where community transmission is occurring – contact your employer.
• You must avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public.

Health Guidance for Returning Travelers in the Higher and Medium Risk Groups

1. Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.
   If you get sick with fever (>100.3°F), cough, or shortness of breath, please call your health care provider.
2. Do not take mass transportation during the time you are practicing social distancing.
3. Avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public.
4. Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).
5. If you seek medical care for other reasons, such as dialysis, call ahead to your doctor and tell them about your recent travel
   
   CLICK HERE for Press Release
    

CITY OF VALDEZ UPDATES

VALDEZ PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER EMERGENCY DECLARATION

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared that the global coronavirus crisis or COVID-19 is now a pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the State of Alaska declared a public health emergency in response to an anticipated outbreak of COVID-19 in Alaska;
Read more HERE


SYMPTOMS, LOCAL MEDICAL PROVIDERS, & PROTOCOL FOR TREATMENT

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If you have the following symptoms, call before you go to the doctor's office, public health clinic or hospital: Fever over 100.4 degrees, cough, or shortness of breath. 


SUPERINTENDENT SHAWN ARNOLD - 3/16 UPDATE

KVAK’s Laurie Prax had an opportunity to sit down with Valdez City Schools Superintendent Shawn Arnold late Monday afternoon to talk about plans for distance learning in the wake of the statewide shutdown of Alaska schools through March 30th.
CLICK HERE to listen


SPRING BREAK EXTENDED FOR VCS STUDENTS

Schools remain closed statewide through March 30^th.
Read more HERE
 

GRAB AND GO FOOD SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS

Grab and go breakfast and lunch is available weekdays at the George Gilson Middle School now through Friday, March 27th, from 11am to 1pm. Students or their parents will be allowed to stop by the lunchroom to grab breakfast and/or lunch and take them home. In addition to pick up meals, we are utilizing buses to deliver meals to homes during the weekdays from 11am-1pm during school closure. If you would like to request a meal, please contact Amber Cockerham at 907-834-4700 or acockerham@valdezcityschools.org.
These meals are available to all students K-12.
CLICK HERE for more information 


SAFEWAY EXTENDED HOURS FOR AT RISK SHOPPERS
Carrs Safeway stores across the State of Alaska will be reserving store hours for at risk shoppers such as senior citizens, pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems.
• Tuesdays: 7am to 9am
• Thursdays: 7am to 9am
Read more HERE

MANY CITY FACILITIES CLOSED

The City of Valdez has the following facilities closed to the public until further notice: Civic Center, Movie Theater, Recreation Center, Pool, Rock Wall, Gyms, Library, Salmonberry Ski Hill.
The City reported that all other city facilities and departments will continue to operate as usual unless otherwise directed by the City Manager. Parks and Recreation will make updates to the Community Parks & Rec Hotline at 835-3200.

VALDEZ SENIOR CENTER UPDATE

The Valdez Senior Center will be closed effective Monday, March 16th until the end of March in conjunction with the schools, college and other local agencies. We will deliver Meals on Wheels and provide rides as usual, but our dining room will be closed.
If you are interested in meals to go, please call 907-835-5032 with your orders by 9:30am, Monday - Friday. 
Read more HERE


VALDEZ FOOD BANK

In order to help reduce the risk of spreading Coronavirus to vulnerable persons, the Food Bank will provide "Curb-Side Delivery" for all patrons. Instead of receiving patrons in the food bank building, patrons are being asked to stay inside their vehicles and shop using a prepared list of available items. The items will be gathered and delivered to patrons' vehicles. TFAP will continue as usual. 


SOCIAL DISTANCING RECOMMENDATIONS

“Social distancing” means avoiding large group gatherings and avoiding getting too close to others. Current guidance from the CDC and DHSS recommends avoiding gatherings of more than ten people and attempting to stay at least six feet away from others.
Read more HERE


SAFEWAY PHARMACY UPDATES

You may have received a text message from Safeway/Albertson’s saying they are now offering pharmacy medication delivery.
Unfortunately that service is currently only offered in larger communities. Our local pharmacist, Tara Yunker, confirmed the Valdez pharmacy is NOT offering medication delivery at this time.
Read more HERE

VALDEZ NEIGHBORS FACEBOOK GROUP

CLICK HERE to visit the group
(Coordinated by members of the VUCRG)
 Consistent with the spirit of Valdez, this group’s purpose is to help connect resources to those who most need them. If you HAVE things that can be shared (i.e. toilet paper, cleaning/sanitizing supplies, etc.) or are aware of neighbors who NEED help, please send a private message to one of the group admins. List can be found HERE.


RESOURCES FOR HELPING YOUR BUSINESS

We know you may be feeling anxiety about how COVID-19 may impact your operation. Resources are available to help you prepare.
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With the COVID-19 situation changing moment by moment, it’s important to remember our local businesses can be a valuable resource in Valdez. If you have a local business and you feel it would be helpful to let the public know you are following guidelines and providing accommodations to assist the community during this uncertain time, please fill out the form below.
KVAK will read a bulletin board type announcement on-air each day with business content from your submission and the Valdez Unified Community Response Group will share your information and updates on their Facebook Page. This is a free service to our local business community, sponsored by the City of Valdez Economic Development Department (VUCRG member) in partnership with KVAK.
Learn more HERE

QUARANTINE VS ISOLATION
Here's how the CDC explains the difference:
• Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
• Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick and prevent possible disease spread to others.

If you are sick, you will be asked to self-isolate, most likely at your home if you are not seriously ill and can separate yourself from other family members. If you have had contact with known case or have traveled to an area where there is COVID-19 spread but are not yet showing symptoms, you may be asked to quarantine at home for a period of time to determine if you will become ill. Learn more at: www.cdc.gov/quarantine


HELPFUL LINKS
Comprehensive list of resources at kvakradio.com

CDC's COVID-19 Situation Overview

State of Alaska’s COVID-19: Situation Overview

Printable Resources
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