Fairbanks, Alaska (March 16, 2020) - Foundation Health Partners (FHP), with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), announced two new positive cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Alaska’s first positive case was announced last Thursday; these new cases bring the total COVID-19 positive cases in Alaska to three. 

The hospital was notified this evening of the positive test results by Alaska State Public Health Laboratory in Fairbanks. 

One patient was tested at Fairbanks Memorial; the other was tested at Tanana Valley Clinic. 

Both individuals who tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 are older adults with recent travel history. The tests were collected yesterday and results were returned this evening. While these individuals were waiting results, they were given strict instructions to self-isolate. Both patients have been contacted and are in stable condition.  

“We are a resilient and strong community,” said Shelly Ebenal, CEO of Foundation Health Partners. “We will work together to get through this. Our staff and healthcare facilities are prepared and, as always, we are ready to meet the healthcare needs of the Interior.”

 FHP physicians and leaders stood up Hospital Incident Command earlier this week. There have been meetings since early January as a way to carefully monitor this evolving global health pandemic. FHP continuously prepares for health care emergencies in a variety of ways:

• We closely collaborate with public health officials on a local, state and national level
• We follow Joint Commission and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standards and measures
• We continuously work to keep our staff trained and educated by practicing things like holding drills, exercises that include mock patients, train putting on and taking off personal protective equipment 
• Currently we have adequate supplies (masks, gloves, eye protection, ventilators, negative air pressure rooms, etc.)

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is working closely with DHSS identify any contacts associated with these patients to minimize risk of exposure to others. State public health officials will be working with the hospital to ensure we detect any new possible cases of the disease connected to these two individuals. This will be important to prevent ongoing spread in the community.

 “We encourage the community to be calm, but to exercise caution and follow the advice of health officials,” said Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink. “We expected to see additional cases in Alaska so this does not come as a surprise, but it is a reminder of the increasing risk we see associated with travel, given ongoing community transmission within the Lower 48. At this time, these are not considered cases of community transmission as they both had travel history. It’s very important that Alaskans follow travel guidance recently issued by the State of Alaska, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”

 For the most current information regarding the coronavirus, including the best way to protect yourself, visit the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website https://www.who.int or the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/