Alaska officials say the COVID alternate care overflow site at the Alaska Airlines Center can be ready to use within 48 hours, according to an article on the Alaska Public Media website.
State data showed five ICU beds available in Anchorage on Oct. 29, the fewest so far during the pandemic.
And while the alternate site is set to go, there remains a concern about staffing. The staffing question is especially critical because of the risk of healthcare workers potentially spreading COVID within a hospital, according to the article.
Alaska has long had a system for requesting workers from other states including programs such as the Emergency Management Assistance Compact . But stress on other states’ healthcare systems could make that more difficult.
Read the full Alaska Public Media article.
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