Keep Calm & Communicate
I was recently walking through downtown Anchorage. The sun was out, flowers were in full bloom and people were out enjoying themselves. It looked like the downtown I remember and was fulfilling to see our community thriving after a tough season. Alas, it’s not over. COVID-19 cases are on the rise again.
Cases are increasing and there are reports of spikes in communities across Alaska. Additionally, several hospital administrators expressed concern about hospital capacity and the ability to adequately handle other significant care events such as a COVID-19 surge. It is highly likely the delta variant is contributing to the increase in cases. This variant spreads more easily but also responds to the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
The bottom line, COVID-19 is still here, and quick action is needed to keep our economy and communities open.
The Three P’s of Staying Grounded During Change
Simple steps to follow when communicating about an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Pause – Take a step back and analyze the information from reliable sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Alaska Department of Health and Social Services; Anchorage Health Department; Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation; Southeast Regional Health Consortium; Foundation Health Partners
Prioritize – If your priority is a healthy community, workforce, and customers, it’s time to get back to the basics of distancing, masking, testing, and getting vaccinated. Setting priorities helps establish goals and to communicate with confidence.
Pivot – If we’ve learned anything over the past year and a half, it’s that information and guidance surrounding COVID-19 can and will quickly change. The key is recognizing the need to act and then taking strategic steps to pivot.
Keep Going
During moments of frustration, it’s crucial to stay positive. Establishing priorities creates the mindset needed to take quick action.
Speaking of being positive, it’s important to recognize how far we’ve come. Vaccinations and COVID-19 mitigation will allow Alaskans to safely return to a way of life we all love. The time is now to once again team up, mask up and vax up to keep the momentum going.
