Cruise ships loom over Skagway’s Broadway Street. (Courtesy Skagway CVB)
Nobody in Skagway has tested positive for COVID-19 yet, but as the number of cases surges across the state, the local emergency Operations Center has drafted a new set of health protocols. The group is seeking feedback on how the community should respond to a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Skagway business owners received an email Monday with a list of new COVID-19 health safety protocols.
The new protocols drafted by Skagway’s Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, outline how the community would respond in two possible scenarios: a traveler testing positive for COVID-19 while in isolation, and a case that could have originated within the community.
In the case of a traveler who tested positive while quarantining in Skagway, the EOC would simply notify the community. EOC Public Information Officer Cody Jennings says if someone were infected after spending time in the community more health precautions would be taken.
“We would potentially implement a shelter in place for a minimum of 7 days if it’s a community spread,” Jennings says.
Shelter in place would mean no group gatherings and staying home as much as possible except to work in a critical job, receive health care or get some fresh air while maintaining distance from others.
Municipal facilities would be closed to the public. Non-critical businesses would switch to curbside delivery and pickup, and masks would be mandatory for employees and patrons of critical businesses.
Critical businesses were defined in the shelter in place resolution passed by the Skagway Borough Assembly back in March. Jennings says those who aren’t sure if their business is considered critical could reach out to Borough Manager Brad Ryan for assistance.
“If they felt like they were a critical business and weren’t identified in that resolution, then he could evaluate it.”
Jennings says the latest protocols are intended to let businesses know what they should do if there is a confirmed case. However, the protocols shared with local businesses this week are still just a draft and she is hoping for feedback.
“Our goal here is to make sure that our local businesses have an idea to be prepared in the event that there is a confirmed case,” Jennings says. “We just want to make sure that everyone is informed and educated.”
Jennings collected feedback from businesses until Wednesday. The EOC plans to have a meeting on the protocols at a later date that has yet to be determined.
