The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District updated their Symptom Free School protocol.
It clarifies that, per the State of Alaska COVID-19 protocol, the school district only accepts PCR and molecular COVID-19 test results. At this time, antigen or antibody tests do not currently fulfill the state testing requirement, according to Pegge Erkeneff, Director of Communications, Community and Government Relations.
She spoke to KSRM Monday morning explaining that there’s a potential for the Kenai peninsula, because of the COVID-19 risk levels, to move over into yellow, “So, remember we look at those stat numbers based on a 14-day case count average. So, we also look at what’s happening on 7-day trends. What do we know based on contact tracing that the type of cases are. So, there’s a number metrics that go into a decision to actually, if we were in high risk to close schools to on-site learning, but at this point, we are slightly trending up and we’re hearing doctors who have concerns about that for our state. What it would mean is that we look at what the protocols are for sports in lower risk sports and activities versus medium risk, school continues the same as it is in medium risk. We already have safety protocols and everything in place and cleaning protocols. Those are standard. Those are there. So, there’s not a lot that would change. What we would be paying attention to is if there was an outbreak that became a school cluster or something at a specific school that might, through a mitigation plan, cause that school to have to have a different response, but right now, we need everybody to be keeping their distance and be washing their hands and doing everything that they need to do, and stay home if you don’t feel good or go get tested, so that we can keep our schools open.”
According to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, COVID-19 numbers appear to be trending upward. Of the new COVID-19 case numbers reported, one was announced for the Kenai Peninsula Borough North.