Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

City recommends Sitkans ‘shelter in place’

After the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state nearly doubled over the weekend, the city of Sitka is strongly recommending Sitkans stay home and shelter-in-place. City Hall is asking businesses to determine if their services are essential, and whether or not they can operate safely under a shelter-in-place order. If they should close to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A former Coast Guard commander, Sitka’s new administrator knows emergencies

The first time most Sitkans heard their new city administrator’s voice may have been the afternoon of Sunday, March 15. Anyone who was signed up for the city’s code-red emergency messaging service on that day received a pre-recorded phone call from John Leach.

Traveling in the shadow of pandemic: How a slow national response leaves a Sitka woman and her community at risk

A Sitka woman in her twenties believes she may have contracted the coronavirus visiting New York earlier this month -- shortly before government officials began to recommend self-isolation for travelers returning to the state. Although she’s still awaiting test results, the woman’s story could really be anyone’s story: It perfectly illustrates why the measures we’re taking now to protect ourselves from COVID-19 are considered so important.

SEARHC to open drive-thru testing tent in Sitka this week

As of Tuesday (3-17-20) there were still no reported cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Southeast Alaska. SEARHC’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elliot Bruhl, in an interview with KCAW on Tuesday morning, said so far, all tests in the region had come back negative.

Assembly approves emergency declaration, funding

The Sitka Assembly has extended an emergency declaration to the end of November, in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

SEARHC officials say ‘dozens’ of COVID-19 tests administered across Southeast

SEARHC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elliot Bruhl and Communications Director Maegan Bosak joined KCAW's Erin Fulton in the studio for the Morning Interview.

City declares local disaster emergency

The city of Sitka has declared a local disaster emergency, to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus. On Sunday (3-15-20) afternoon, city administrator John Leach announced the declaration and said all city buildings will be closed beginning this week, including Harrigan Centennial Hall and Sitka Public Library.