Coronavirus numbers are going up across the Kenai Peninsula and the state.
Bruce Richards, Director of External Affairs at the Central Peninsula Hospital says, “We’re starting to see our numbers come up at the hospital. We’re starting to see more cases come into the hospital because of COVID-19. It’s definitely changed over the last two weeks as a spike that we’re in.”
Richards says that those cases are contributing to the hospital being at full capacity, “We’re at capacity today right now. We’re full. Is it because of COVID-19? If you took those patients out, I guess we wouldn’t be there. Yes, we are at capacity this morning and that always happens. There’s times where we have fewer people in the hospital and times when we’re full, but it seems we’ve been much closer to the full side lately.
When asked if speculation would dictate to higher numbers, Richards says, “Well it’s difficult to predict that, but it’s not looking very favorable, that’s for sure. We’re seeing more people come in and it certainly is keeping the hospital at the upper end of its capacity”
Governor Mike Dunleavy’s COVID-related, state disaster declaration starts today. The move reportedly comes as Alaskans confront a mounting challenge from the deadly virus, with updated figures showing the Kenai Peninsula Borough in the red zone with 76.36 COVID-19 cases per 100,000, the third highest in the state. As a result, face masks and social distancing are mandated at all state work sites, and state workers are encouraged to work from home wherever possible.
In response to Dunleavy’s disaster declaration, Richards says, “We need it. The disaster declaration is incredibly helpful to operations in the healthcare side. It relaxes regulatory requirements that are basically red tape when you’re in the middle of a situation like this. Having those relaxations and allowing us to provide care without so much red tape is very helpful to us.”
