ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska’s chief medical officer urged residents to be prepared for disruptions to their daily lives but remain mindful of small actions that can help control the spread of the virus that causes the disease called COVID-19.
Dr. Anne Zink stressed hand washing while addressing a town hall meeting in Chugiak Saturday, The Anchorage Daily News reported. “Hand washing is incredibly important,” Zink said, while also noting the importance of keeping fingers away from faces to prevent the spread of germs.
“It’s hard to emphasize that enough but please — stop touching your face, please wash your hands as often as possible,” Zink said to an audience of about 50 people. The state is actively monitoring the spread of the virus. While it has not been detected in Alaska, residents should prepare for the possibility, Zink said.
“As Alaskans we know we need to be prepared for an earthquake or other changes so making sure you have enough food, hand sanitizer, things like that at home” is crucial, Zink said.
People should have enough medicine on hand for two weeks to a month and begin considering how to react to disruptions if there is a significant outbreak in the state. There are currently no plans to close schools or cancel events, but it would be wise for residents to “think about what would happen if schools got closed or your work asked you to work from home,” Zink said.
If symptoms arise, Zink said residents should call ahead to their primary care providers so steps can be taken to ensure the disease is contained. COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that is a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. More than 88,000 people around the globe have been infected, with the virus appearing on every continent but Antarctica.
Virus symptoms can include fever, runny nose, cough and breathing trouble. Most develop only mild cases. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal.