Updated 5/12/2020
Health Fairs:
We plan to resume health fairs in late August. Please look for schedule announcements on our website.
Office Draws:
AHF was recognized as an Essential Service by the State of Alaska. We resumed blood tests in our Fairbanks and Anchorage offices, by appointment only, limited to certain days of the week. To schedule an appointment or if you have any questions, please call (907) 278-0234 in Anchorage; and, (907) 374-6853 in Fairbanks.
Thank you!
AHF Team
Earlier Message – 4/23/2020
Health Fairs:
Alaska Health Fair decided to cancel all health fairs for the months of March, April, and May, in order to adhere to the social distancing mandate and to minimize the spread of COVID-19. All AHF offices are closed at the moment. We are assessing the situation daily and will inform the public of any other decisions on this page. We recommend that all Alaskans follow the prevention and preparedness guidelines outlined by DHSS on this page: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/default.aspx
Office Draws:
We are making plans to resume the office draws as soon as the social distancing guidelines allow. We are also considering making blood draws available by appointment in some communities outside of Anchorage and Fairbanks. Please sign up to our newsletter to be notified when our services become available again: http://oi.vresp.com/?fid=96cc21b195.
Sincerely,
AHF Team
Earlier Message – 3/31/2020
Health Fairs:
Alaska Health Fair Board of Directors and Staff have decided to cancel all health fairs for the month of March and April in order to observe the social distancing mandate and to minimize the spread of COVID-19. All AHF offices are closed at the moment. We will be assessing the situation daily and inform the public of any other decisions on this page. We recommend that all Alaskans follow the prevention and preparedness guidelines outlined by DHSS on this page: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/default.aspx
Office Draws:
AHF suspended the office draws for the month of March and April to observe social distancing and help minimize the spread of COVID-19.
We will be updating our schedules on Facebook and on our website.
We hope to see all of you, our clients, volunteers and partners, once the quarantine is over.
Sincerely,
AHF Team
Earlier Message – 3/16/2020
Health Fairs:
Alaska Health Fair Board of Directors and Staff have decided to cancel all health fairs in the month of March. Taking the cues from the State and the CDC, we feel it is best for all concerned to cancel them. We will be assessing the situation daily and inform the public of any other decisions on this page. We recommend that all Alaskans follow the prevention and preparedness guidelines outlined by DHSS on this page: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/default.aspx
Office Draws:
To continue to safely serve the residents of Alaska, we are offering blood draws in the office, available by appointment only several times a week. This service is available at our offices in Fairbanks and Anchorage. To check availability and schedule an appointment please call (907) 278-0234 for Anchorage, (907) 374-6853 in Fairbanks.
We will be updating our schedules on Facebook and on our website.
Earlier Message – 3/12/2020
Dear Clients, Volunteers, Health Educators and Partners!
We would like to update you on some potential changes to the health fair schedule this spring.
On Wednesday of this week, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and Governor Dunleavy has declared Alaska in a State of Emergency. Alaska Health Fair staff and Board of Directors are monitoring the rapidly changing situation in the state. As of the writing of this post (03/12/2020), there were NO cases of COVID-19 registered in Alaska. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), at the moment, is not recommending general home quarantine in response to COVID-19. Also, DHSS is not recommending canceling mass public gatherings.
However, DHSS is recommending that people that fit certain criteria should avoid certain public events, and AHF is extending the DHSS recommendation to all AHF Health Fairs. People who meet any of the following criteria, for their safety, should avoid attending the Health Fairs:
• Persons aged over 60 years;
• Persons with underlying medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease,
diabetes; OR
• Persons who have symptoms of an acute respiratory illness or fever.
Link to the original DHSS posting: http://dhss.alaska.gov/News/Documents/press/2020/SOA_03112020_HealthAlert.pdf
AHF will continue to monitor and follow the DHSS recommendations in regards to public gatherings. This means that AHF will cancel events when DHSS makes a recommendation to cancel public gatherings. The status of AHF Health Fairs will be updated in this post. AHF is considering expanding the office draws in its Fairbanks and Anchorage offices, to be available by individual appointment only, if Health Fairs are canceled. Please stay tuned for more information about the office draws.
Please note that, following the DHSS and CDC recommendations, if you are feeling sick or meet the DHSS vulnerable population criteria as stated above, please refrain from attending all public gatherings and AHF Health Fairs and refer to the following document for more information: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/default.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3zTQbaDXfupKQhRlOLZwas4AHbMcHL9QEtVYy6o23ZWfp39g164QxVFB8
We wish you to know we are staying up to date on the day by day information available on this Pandemic, and our first concern is the health and wellbeing of our clients, volunteers, exhibitors, partners and all Alaskans.
Thank you to everyone for being a wonderful member of our Alaska Health Fair community. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time period and look forward to seeing you at our events this Spring or in the Fall.
Sincerely,
AHF Team and Board of Directors
With questions please call: (907) 278-0234 for Anchorage/Statewide, (907) 374-6853 in Fairbanks, or (907) 723-5100 in Juneau.