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CCFR recognizes COVID-19 emergency workers and staff

February 4, 2021 – FYI

Last June, the State of Alaska started requiring travelers entering the state to either arrive with a negative test result or take a COVID-19 test at the airport. Like many things related to the pandemic, the new requirement didn’t come with a lot of time to prepare. Still, Capital City Fire/Rescue rose to the challenge. The department hired and trained dozens of emergency workers, figured out the logistics, and, within days, was running a successful COVID-19 screening and testing operation at the airport.

After close to eight months – and 38,000 travelers later – CCFR’s time with airport testing recently came to an end. Capstone Clinic took over the state contract and, as of Feb. 1, is now running the testing operation at the Juneau airport.

CCFR Chief Rich Etheridge is grateful for the emergency workers who made the airport testing effort possible: “We would like to thank all of the community members that jumped in and filled these roles. They did an amazing job under stressful conditions. We are happy to report none of our emergency workers contracted COVID-19 during these operations. Masks and universal precautions do work.”

These emergency workers and CCFR staff who’ve been involved with the pandemic response were recently honored with a CCFR Challenge Coin.

“Challenge coins are a long standing military and fire service tradition. As part of our annual awards, CCFR recognized our emergency hires and staff for their professionalism and tremendous amount of work that has gone into the local COVID-19 response,” Etheridge said.

Thank you, CCFR, and all the emergency workers for your hard work during this ongoing pandemic.

CCFR continues to run the COVID-19 Screening Hotline and the Drive-Thru Testing facility at the Hagevig Fire Training Center. If you develop any new symptoms, even mild ones, stay home and call a healthcare provider or the COVID-19 Screening Hotline, 586-6000, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily to arrange testing.