On Saturday, two new positive COVID-19 cases were announced on the central peninsula: Soldotna (1), and Sterling (1). Sunday afternoon, Acting Superintendent Dave Jones said, “At this time we are not aware of a nexus from these two positive cases to KPBSD schools. KPBSD plans for all “Get-It and Go” student meal sites to be available for pickup on Monday, March 23, 2020.”
One of the largest employers on the peninsula, KPBSD is providing essential services in our borough by providing meals for children, and preparing to deliver education via distance delivery to our students beginning March 30, 2020, until May 1, 2020. Mr. Jones strongly asks that all KPBSD employees, “practice social distancing, frequent hand-washing, and adhere to the KPSBD Symptoms Free School Protocol.” This means if staff have a temperature, cough, sore throat, or runny nose, they should stay at home and not report to work. Additional mandates and guidance from the State of Alaska includes a 14-day quarantine for everyone who travels into Alaska on or after March 20, 2020; if you have COVID-19 symptoms; or if you are exposed to someone with symptoms, who has been tested, or received a positive COVID-19 test result.
Telework – strongly encouraged
To further reduce the density of staff in schools, if staff are able, they are strongly encouraged to Telework from home as soon as they are prepared to do so. This will create a safer workplace for employees who need to continue coming to schools at this time. All staff received the Telework checklist and agreement via district email on Thursday, 3-19-20, and are asked to work with their administrator or supervisor if there are questions about this process.
This coming week is critical to flatten the curve of COVID-19 spread in our diverse communities. Specific school sites or meal delivery could be suspended based on results of COVID-19 exposure. The school district leadership is working closely with school administrators, the state, and Borough Office of Emergency Management.
In coming days we will likely learn about positive cases of COVID-19 in our communities—with our friends, loved ones, and strangers. The coronavirus is a pandemic, and it is not selective. Be kind to one another, practice social distancing. If you have any symptoms or learn you may have been exposed, please let your administrator or supervisor know.
Borough Facebook Live: COVID-19 Community Conversation, daily at 7:00 PM
Tip: For very good local COVID-19 information and to ask questions, tune in daily from 7:00 – 7:30 PM for a KPBalerts Facebook Live with the Borough Incident Commander and Public Information Officer.
Thank you for watching out for each other, and continuing to prepare to deliver education to our youth. This will be a big week of preparation for education to begin on March 30, and to respond to the pandemic arriving and spreading on the Kenai Peninsula. We must all do our part. Be safe, and pause to delight in the Sunday sunshine today.
Links
- New: Check your risk for coronavirus: https://c19check.com/start
- KPBalerts Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KPBAlerts/
- Kenai Peninsula Borough March 21, 2020: Two New Positive Cases in the Sterling and Soldotna Area
- COVID-19 and KPBSD webpage
- Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Covid-19 webpage
- DHSS Facebook
Learn more about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at coronavirus.alaska.gov
For non-clinical related questions please call 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221, or contact your health provider