The Coast Guard has downgraded its threat level at its Kodiak base from red to amber. The change from high risk to moderate status took effect last Thursday.
Capt. Edward Hernaez, commander of the Kodiak base, says the COVID-19 outbreak at the base appears to have reached its peak – and has been contained to 14 service members and dependents.
Hernaez credits the Coast Guard’s contact tracing program, which was in place before the outbreak, for keeping the virus in check.
“It is a critical element of any outbreak with regards to this virus,” Hernaez said. “The ability to manage contact investigations in a timely manner can mean the difference between large community spread and a small amount of community spread.”
Contract tracing shows that the outbreak appears to have begun with an air station member, who had traveled off island on assignment and continued to work while experiencing symptoms of the virus, which spread to three other members. Hernaez wouldn’t’ disclose where the member had traveled, because he said the contract tracing could not determine with certainty where the member became infected.
“We really don’t know specifically the location,” Hernaez said. “We just know that the member had traveled, and it was likely related to that travel.” Hernaez did say the travel was work related and not personal.
Hernaez also wouldn’t say whether there was an event on base such as a party or a house gathering that caused the virus to spread beyond the first group of cases — only that it’s likely the infection spread, because the air station members worked in the same shop in a “congregated” space.
By Oct. 1, the outbreak grew to six cases, including two children and eventually led to two temporary closures at Peterson and North Star elementary schools. Then on Oct. 4, the Coast Guard reported 13 cases.
Since then, only one more case was identified after hundreds of service members were tested for the virus.
Capt. Hernaez says there’s an important lesson learned from how quickly the virus spread.
“If you’re feeling off at all, members, and people in general, should not be going to work,” said Hernaez, who recommends reporting the symptoms and following medical advice.
Hernaez says another key to containing the outbreak was developing what he called a “battle rhythm of daily meetings” between commanding officers, the contact tracing and medical teams and representatives from other groups.
“It’s not a battle in the conventional sense,” Hernaez said. “But you’re certainly combatting this virus, and you’re trying to prevent the spread of a virus, which is on its own, a very unique challenge.”
Early in the outbreak, the base closed its daycare operations at its Child Development Center. At the time, the base’s public affairs office said it was because a child had tested positive for the virus. But Hernaez says that didn’t turn out to be the case.
“Prior to that, to say that a kid had a runny nose or a stomachache, I’m sure that we have evidence of that,” Hernaez said, “but none of the kids tested positive, so there were no cases specifically coming from the child development center.”
Hernaez says the base is partially reopening its daycare program, primarily for Coast Guard families who have no other options.
Another change since the outbreak — wall mounted temperature-check devices have been installed in offices around the base.
The service members who were under quarantine have been released and some recreational facilities on base like the movie theatre and the gym have re-opened with new guidelines, according to a notice Hernaez sent to the guard members.
(Read Capt. Edward Hernaez’s message about the transition from red to amber risk levels here, provided by the Coast Guard: 10.15.20 Capt. Hernaez Memo on Red to Amber Transition )
Hernaez believes this may be the first COVID-19 outbreak on a Coast Guard Base in the country. He said he knows of no other that has had an outbreak like the one in Kodiak.
So, could all of this been avoided?
“That’s a tough one to speculate on,” Hernaez said. “I think I’ll just go back to my original lesson learned.”
“If people did not come into work, if they were not feeling well, then you’d avoid a lot of community spread associated with the virus.”
Hernaez said the outbreak certainly could have been a lot worse, had there not been a contact tracing plan in place already – and a quick response to isolate the infection.
