State to bolster preparedness for Novel Coronavirus, funding for temporary health positions

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has submitted a supplemental budget amendment to fund ten additional temporary positions within the Department of Health and Social Services for novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19 preparedness and response.

The supplemental budget would provide the Division of Public Health with five new public health nurses, three nurse epidemiologists, one microbiologist in Fairbanks to assist with lab testing, and one emergency manager to assist in the Emergency Operations Center. These positions will be based statewide and will be able to travel as needed to rural communities to help monitor and screen for COVID-19.

There is coordination and contact between state departments, and local, tribal, and federal health providers, the governor said in a March 2 statement.

“We have been preparing for the past month-and-a-half and are now looking to bolster our preparedness and response teams by adding these ten new temporary positions,” the governor said.

“Common sense protocols that would be applied to any flu or cold season will help Alaskans deal with potential illnesses we may see in the coming months,” he said.

Adam Crum, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, said his agency asked for the new resources and positions to fortify the agency’s capabilities. “This will allow public health nursing and epidemiology to have an increased presence around the state to help coordinate with local health care providers,” he said.

Dr. Anne Zink, the state’s Chief Medical Officer said, “While we have not yet seen any cases of COVID-19 in Alaska, our Emergency Operations Center has been in operation for over a month and we continue to work with Public Health, including testing for the disease.”

“It’s important to remember that there are things we can to help protect ourselves, our families and our communities. Everyday measures, like those that prevent other respiratory illnesses like the flu and the common cold, also work to control the novel coronavirus.”

The supplemental budget amendment would provide $4 million in state funds and allow for the receipt of $9 million in federal support for mitigation and response efforts.