Citing decrease COVID-19 neighborhood an infection charges, Central Peninsula Hospital final week stated that it’s enjoyable customer restrictions for COVID-negative sufferers, efficient March 15. Totally different restrictions apply to pediatric and grownup sufferers and range relying on the kind of service the affected person is receiving.
“Most significantly, COVID negative inpatients can now have two visitors at a time, including in the Family Birth Center,” the hospital shared through social media March 15.
All guests will nonetheless be required to put on a masks whereas on the hospital, and should go a well being display on the hospital entrance. Kids shall be allowed to go together with dad and mom to scheduled appointments. For all therapy varieties, COVID-negative pediatric sufferers might be accompanied by two dad and mom or guardians. COVID-positive pediatric sufferers might be accompanied by one mum or dad or guardian.
A full breakdown of the brand new pointers might be discovered on the hospital’s web site at cpgh.org/corona.
The Alaska Division of Well being and Social Companies introduced Friday that 510 new COVID-19 circumstances had been reported in Alaska from March 16 to March 17, together with 503 amongst residents. On the Kenai Peninsula, 23 resident circumstances had been reported in Homer, 15 had been reported in Seward, 11 had been reported in Soldotna and eight had been reported in Kenai. One resident case was reported every in Anchor Level, Fritz Creek, Kenai Peninsula Borough North, Kenai Peninsula Borough South.
Different resident circumstances reported Friday included 132 in Anchorage, 33 in eight Nome Census Space communities, 26 in Juneau, 24 in Nome, 20 in seven Bethel Census Space communities, 19 within the Larger Palmer Space, 19 within the Larger Wasilla Space, 17 in Fairbanks, 13 in Kotzebue, 13 in six Northwest Arctic Borough communities, 12 in two Dillingham Census Space communities, 12 in Ketchikan, 11 in Dillingham, 11 in Eagle River, 9 in two Kusilvak Census Space communities, eight in 4 Yukon-Koyukuk Census Space communities, seven in Kodiak, six in Cordova, six in North Pole, six in Sitka, 5 in Bethel, 5 in Metlakatla, three in Aleutians East Borough, three in Chugiak, three in Wrangell, two in Denali Borough, two in Haines, two within the Houston/Massive Lake space, two in Unalaska and two in Utqiagvik. One resident case every was reported in Bristol Bay/Lake and Peninsula mixed, the Copper River Census Space, Girdwood, Hooper Bay, Mat-Su Borough, Petersburg, Skagway, Valdez and Willow.
Moreover, seven nonresident circumstances had been reported, together with two in Fairbanks, two in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Space, one in Anchorage, one in Eagle River and one in Sitka.
Officers extensively agree getting vaccinated towards COVID will assist sluggish the unfold even additional and defend folks from extreme sickness, hospitalization and loss of life.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for everybody 5 years and older, whereas the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines are authorized for anybody 18 and older.
Along with a main collection — two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine — consultants are strongly encouraging booster pictures to guard towards omicron, whether or not or not an individual has already contracted the virus and regardless of elapsed time for the reason that completion of the first collection. The Meals and Drug Administration and Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention are recommending Pfizer boosters for anybody 12 and older at the very least 5 months after the first collection. Moreover, Moderna boosters are really helpful for anybody 18 and older at the very least six months after a main collection.
Janssen boosters are authorized for anybody 18 and older at the very least two months after preliminary vaccination, though DHSS officers say the Janssen shot isn’t the popular vaccine due to dangers of blood clotting and fewer strong safety towards COVID. The state recommends folks with a main Janssen vaccine to get both a Pfizer or Moderna booster.
Getting a vaccine
COVID-19 vaccines don’t value cash, and can be found to folks with and with out medical insurance. Many organizations on the central peninsula — together with Walmart, Walgreens, the Kenai Fireplace Division and Kenai Public Well being — provide vaccines.
Moreover, Soldotna Skilled Pharmacy hosts a walk-in clinic in its strip mall storefront on the “Y” intersection of the Sterling and Kenai Spur highways. The clinic is open from midday to six p.m. Monday by Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Vaccination appointments will also be scheduled by the net portal PrepMod, which might be accessed at myhealth.alaska.gov.
A map of vaccine suppliers might be discovered on DHSS’ COVID-19 vaccine web site at covidvax.alaska.gov.
Individuals who would love help scheduling a vaccination appointment can name the Kenai Peninsula Borough Workplace of Emergency Administration name heart. The middle operates Monday by Friday from 9 a.m. to midday. The central peninsula name heart might be reached at 907-262-4636. The Homer name heart might be reached at 907-235-4636. The Seward name heart might be reached at 907-224-4636.
Testing areas
Officers encourage anybody with signs to check for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination standing.
In Kenai, testing is accessible at Odyssey Household Observe, Kenai Public Well being Middle and Capstone Clinic. At-home check kits are additionally accessible without spending a dime at Kenai Public Well being.
In Soldotna, testing is accessible on the Peninsula Neighborhood Well being Middle, Pressing Care of Soldotna, Walgreens and Soldotna Skilled Pharmacy.
In Homer, testing is accessible at South Peninsula Hospital, or by different space well being care suppliers at Seldovia Village Tribe Well being and Wellness, Kachemak Medical Group and Homer Medical Middle. In Seward, testing is accessible at Windfall Medical Middle, Glacier Household Medication, Seward Neighborhood Well being Middle and the Safeway pharmacy.
Attain reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
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