Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

The Haines Borough Emergency Operations Center (EOC) deactivated its response to the covid-19 pandemic effective March 1, EOC commander Carolann Wooton wrote to the manager and assembly in a March 1 memo, almost two years from when it began.

“While there are still active cases each day, the rate of vaccination in Haines is very high with 70% of the eligible population fully vaccinated,” Wooton wrote. “Testing supplies and masks are readily available in multiple areas of the community through the Borough Administration, Haines School and SEARHC. I will continue to support the school and administration ordering testing supplies and PPE as needed.”

Like many communities across the country, Haines is at the tail end of the omicron variant spread. There is no longer community spread after the outbreak began in late December, according to public health officials. Since the pandemic began in March 2020, three Haines residents have been hospitalized and one died from the virus. No hospitalizations or deaths have been reported from the omicron variant. The Haines School made masks optional this week.

The EOC, made up of borough staff and residents, enables coordinated response among agencies and entities assisting with response and stabilization during a disaster. The EOC initially activated March 6, 2020 in response to the covid-19 virus. It later managed the December 2020 weather emergency.

“The EOC is ready and able to reactivate should we see surges that tax our medical system, and or our EMS response; or should any other emergency arise,” Wooton wrote.

Many residents volunteered during the past two years, some for a few weeks, others for the nearly two-year life of the organization including Alekka Fullerton, Liz Cornejo, Scott Bradford, Alan Heinrich, Doug Olerud, Jan Hill, Tim Thomas, Sean Gaffney, Roy Josephson, Darwin Feakes, Steven Auch, Erik Stevens, Richard Clement, Brenda Josephson, Sylvia Heinz, Tina Olsen, Jila Stuart, Roy Getchell, Stephanie Pattison, Lylith Widmer and Elaine Hickey.