COVID cases climb in Haines. But as state and local officials move away from case count reporting, questions remain about how to gauge the pandemic locally

 

Haines is in the midst of its second largest wave of COVID-19, tracking with the state of Alaska which reported its highest daily case count last week, with 1,873 cases on Wednesday. The state reported 21 COVID cases over the weekend, and around 70 cases over the past two weeks in the Haines borough. That comes as state and local officials are moving away from reporting daily case counts, and are relying heavily on testing to detect the virus and for those who are positive to isolate. But some say it’s difficult to gauge the local picture and how the virus is spreading. KHNS’ Corinne Smith reports. 

Haines borough manager Annette Kreitzer says as there are COVID cases reported in the community, residents should evaluate it as a personal risk rather than a public health threat.

“I would characterize it as we do with any kind of illness, that people are aware of their own frailties,” Kreitzer said. “For instance, my mother has lupus, my brother has cancer, another brother has another disease that keeps him partially bed bound. So I have family members who are immunocompromised. And they are very careful with their own decisions, about having groceries delivered, or when they go out wearing an N95 masks, those kinds of things.”

Kreitzer says the borough’s guidance continues to recommend people get vaccinated, wear masks and avoid large groups and crowds. But she says it’s a personal decision. 

“I think everyone has to make those decisions for themselves. I think sometimes when people focus on the community as a whole, that becomes a bit overwhelming,” Kreitzer said. “I think what happens is people tend to worry about other people’s behavior, as opposed to what am I going to do for myself? What am I going to do for me to keep me safe? We see a lot of people come into the borough offices who wear masks, who wear N95 masks. We see people come in without one. And so I think that is what people are doing, and should be doing, is thinking about your particular health situation, your particular case, what do you need to do to feel safe and to keep your health up.”

Since October, when the borough stopped reporting daily case counts, local guidance has focused on the message that residents should assume there is community spread and take precautionary measures. 

Kreitzer echoed state and regional officials who say case counts are less accurate now, since not all positive cases from at-home testing kits are reported. She says the state COVID dashboard is useful but known to be delayed. If there is a surge, she says the borough works with the regional health consortium and Public Health in Juneau, and will provide updates.   

“If we have that information, then we will update the public,” Kreitzer said.

State public health officials announced last week that the state would be moving towards tracking COVID more like the flu, looking at trends over time. They say in addition to case counts, local communities should look at vaccination rates, hospitalizations and deaths. 

A spokesperson with SEARHC told KHNS in an email “the numbers are not as important as the fact that there are positive COVID cases in Haines, so people need to ensure that they are following proper hand hygiene, obtaining a COVID test if you are symptomatic, getting a COVID vaccine and booster, getting a flu vaccination, get tested if you have any symptoms, and if you are sick, stay home.”

But some in Haines say they’re frustrated by the lack of COVID case reporting. Former Haines assembly member Heather Lende says COVID is a public safety issue.

“It just seems strange, that we seem to have a lot of concern on the part of the local government for anything that has to do with our health and safety. When it comes to bears, when it comes to icy roads, when it comes to potential power outages, I get Nixels all day long,” Lende said. “And still, it’s almost impossible to find any information on COVID in Haines, except for being told, well, you know, assume it’s here.”

She says she’s concerned about the immunocompromised and children under 5 years old who are unvaccinated. She doesn’t want to see any more deaths, and says there should be stronger actions to protect from further spread of the virus.

“If we’re assuming it’s here, then how come there’s no masks in borough facilities anymore? How come there’s no real public, it seems like, initiative to control it?”

The borough is providing free at-home rapid COVID tests, especially advised for those returning from travel. Kreitzer says at this time, Haines is well-stocked with home test kits and has already distributed about half of the 1,000 it received from the state and has received 440 more.

“Now that we have more, we would encourage people if they want another test to come down and get one here or at the Public Safety building,” Kreitzer said. “And we try to make that as easy as possible, it can be absolutely contactless. When they come in, they can just pick it up off the counter, and they don’t have to talk to anyone or do anything. Just grab a test.”

She says some of those tests do expire at the end of the month , so the borough is partnering with the school to get them into the community quickly. 

The Haines school district is also relying on COVID testing to safeguard from the spread of omicron. Classes started for the spring term in-person with masking, and regular testing of athletes, and students and staff as needed.