As the outbreak continues, we will keep our shareholders informed about the measures we are taking. In particular, we’ll keep you informed should it impact upcoming shareholder events or meetings. These communications will happen through future editions of the Chugach Pride newsletter, the Chugach website and social media.
Specifically for Shareholders and business partners, we are minimizing access to our Anchorage headquarters through the end of April, and encourage you to give us a call as an alternative when possible. This will lower exposure to the virus for individuals traveling to and from the office, and this effort is in place to protect our incredible employees who do our day-to-day work and make Chugach’s success possible. Shareholder Services will be available to answer questions during this time, and all of their contact info can be found on our contact page.
As recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), here are some measure that you can take immediately to lower your exposure to COVID-19:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. An alternative to soap and water is an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Maintain at least six feet between yourself and individuals showing signs of illness and limit your time in their vicinity.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth without first washing your hands.
- Take care of yourself: get adequate sleep, eat well-balanced meals and drink the daily recommended amount of water to ensure a healthy immune system.
- Face masks are only necessary if you’re already infected with the virus, and this measure will help to spread the virus to others.
Further action can lower your exposure to yourself and to others:
- Stay home if you are not feeling well.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. No tissue? Then sneeze or cough into the bend of your elbow.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. This includes your smartphone (front, back and under the cover).
As the number of infected people grow in our community, so too does misinformation. Make sure you’re looking beyond the headlines and go to reputable sources of information such as the CDC, WHO and, locally, the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services.
People who appear to be at higher risk of getting sick are older adults and those with current and ongoing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease. In alignment with our Native values, this is a time to look after and support our Elders.
For most, though, cases are mild to moderate, and these individuals recover within two weeks. Panic is the number one enemy at the moment. You can see this in the stock market and in the news. A level of concern is warranted, but if we all take the above actions, we can significantly lower our personal risk and protect those around us.
Thank you and, as always, it is a privilege to serve the Chugach community,
Sheri Buretta
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Interim President & CEO