Answers to 3/23/20 COVID-19 Health Mandate Questions
/Dear Bristol Bay Fishermen,
Update: new information is incorporated into the statement below in CAPS. We’ll keep updating this post as information becomes available.
Late yesterday, the State of Alaska issued the COVID-19 Health Mandate 010 which names Alaska’s commercial fishermen as “critical infrastructure” in Attachment A, section (g). That means that fishing preparations and activities in Bristol Bay are cleared to continue, but under various safety protocols. Those who are planning to travel to Alaska between now and MAY 1, 2020 are required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival at their final destination. The mandate also requires businesses to “submit a plan or protocol” by 3pm AKDT on March 24, 2020 (today).
This mandate and its requirements have created numerous questions from the fishermen’s perspective. We have been in contact with State of Alaska officials and want to relay what we’ve learned, and what we are still awaiting clarification on, those things are as follows: :
1. If you are not traveling (to Alaska from outside the state) or conducting any business operations in Alaska between now and MAY 1, 2020, you DO NOT have to submit a plan to the State at this time. Patiently wait and more direction will be forthcoming from the State as we get into April. BBRSDA is also working with community leaders and processors to develop safety protocols pertaining to public and industry health. It will probably take some time (a week or more?) to finalize all the specifics involved in such a plan, but until then following best practices for personal health/safety and be thinking about how you’ll personally protect yourselves, your crew, and the Bristol Bay community.
2. If you are planning to travel and conduct business operations prior to MAY 1, 2020, you MUST submit a plan by 3pm AKDT today (3/24/20). We are awaiting clarification on whether you can submit that after 3/24/20 ahead of when you travel/operate. If you are traveling this week, you should definitely prepare and submit a plan on your own behalf. Also, if traveling prior to MAY 1, 2020, you are required to fill out this Travel Declaration Form. It is unclear whether you’d need to mail/email this anywhere, but it would be best to print/fill out the form and have it with you during your travel.
3. If you’d like to draft and submit a plan today (3/24/20), you may do so by emailing your plan to the following email addresses:
alaskadevelopment@alaska.gov
john.springsteen@alaska.gov
4. It is possible that BBRSDA will be allowed to submit a “blanket plan” on behalf of Bristol Bay fishermen. We are working on what that looks like and what information the State would require in such a document. If this option is approved by the State, we will post that blanket plan to bbrsda.com. If you cannot follow its protocols or need to incorporate other details, you would need to submit your own plan. BBRSDA may be allowed to submit a “blanket plan” on behalf of Bristol Bay fishermen; however, it would have to be reviewed/approved by DHSS and as the 3pm AKDT deadline is fast approaching it would probably not be feasible. If deadlines are extended, we will consider whether to work further on this. For now, BBRSDA is actively engaged in planning and preparation efforts focused on time periods closer to the season and in-season. So for now, if you’re
5. For those submitting their own plans, you should incorporate your crew members into the plan and protocols. If you do so, your crew does not need to submit their own plans. Just make sure you name all the individuals who are part of your business plan.
6. If you travel to Bristol Bay prior to MAY 1, 2020, you should still abide by the 14-day self-quarantine directive by restricting your movements (and your crew’s) to your vessel, setnet site, fleet office (if needed), and boatyard. Every attempt to submit gear store orders via telephone and arranging for delivery should be made to avoid having contact with areas where you’ll create contact with the community, such as gear or grocery stores. More information about acceptable self-quarantine practices will be provided at a later time, but for now exercise an abundance of caution to the greatest extent possible.
Check back to bbrsda.com later today. We will provide updated information as it becomes available, and will share a blanket plan when/if that option is approved by the State of Alaska. Please exercise some patience and calmness regarding this difficult situation. The State of Alaska, Governor Dunleavy, industry, and everyone else involved are trying to be proactive about protecting public health. As long as we all behave in a civil and reasonable fashion by doing our best to follow the direction we’re provided, we believe the State’s public health goals will be achieved and our industry will remain in good standing.
Finally, in terms of broad advice, it is critical that everyone prioritize partitioning and avoiding increasing the number of places where the virus can live and spread. For partitioning, this means isolating yourself and crew as much as possible until you can get on the water or to your setnet site. Practice social distancing and avoid contact with as many things as possible in common areas. Be diligent about personal hygiene before and after entering these areas. Wash your hands, don’t touch your face while in common areas, keep your hands in your pockets, cover any coughs with your upper arm, and other similar habits. It is critically important to avoid contact with surfaces in common areas as much as possible where you may contract or spread the virus.
WE’VE RECEIVED SOME ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE (UPDATED AS OF 2:01PM):
Plan Format: We will accept any plan or format your company already has developed. Once submitted, it will be reviewed for compliance and we will address any shortfalls during the approval process. At a minimum, your businesses plan must address how you handle on-boarding employees, and measures to protect the rest of your workforce and the surrounding community. For additional resource on developing plans, please visit: https://discoveryhealthmd.com/coronavirus-corner/.
Self-Quarantine: All workers arriving in the State must follow the 14-day self-quarantine guidance. If your business meets the definitions of critical infrastructure workers, you may put them to worker immediate, provided that you have an approved Community/Workforce Protective Plan and that you enact the protective measures in your plan to safeguard the surrounding community and the remainder of your workforce from the newly arrived workers. The intent is that, to the greatest extent possible, workers will self-quarantine at their final destination in Alaska in order to reduce the risk of infection during onward travel. In cases where this is not possible for some reason, you would need to identify the reason and what the company’s alternate plan is for self-quarantine.
Submission of Plans: Businesses that have workers traveling to enter Alaska before May 1, 2020 need to submit by 15:00 AKDT this afternoon. Businesses that will not have workers travel to enter Alaska before May 1, 2020 may submit plans at this time, or at a later date. Businesses should submit their plans to the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development at AlaskaDevelopment@alaska.gov. If you cannot make that deadline, please submit it as soon as possible, however the approval may be impacted for plans received after 15:00. (3pm today)
Applicability to Shipping Vehicles, Aircraft and Vessels: Shipping companies and retailers must submit on behalf of your individual truckers and aircrews. Your plan should include what self-quarantine measures that driver or crew will follow (staying on the truck/ship, remaining overnight in a hotel, etc.) and what measures will be used at the loading dock (for trucks arriving at a store) to minimize risk of community spread.
Applicability to Fishing Vessels: For now, parent companies should submit on behalf of their crews and implement measures for vessel crews to follow. Further guidance on this may be published at a later date.
