Talk of Alaska: Health experts address omicron surge questions

A person in a hospital gown walks around a parked car in a snowy parking lot
A COVID-19 testing site on C Street run by Capstone on Jan. 7, 2021. (Lex Treinen/Alaska Public Media)

The omicron variant surge in Alaska is once again putting health care resources under strain, but not in the same way as last fall’s delta surge. Omicron appears to be more mild than previous variants, but its high rate of transmissibility means hospitals and schools are still seeing significant impacts. How long do health officials expect this surge to last, and how is limited testing adding to the problem?

Listen here:

HOST: Lori Townsend

GUESTS:

  • Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
  • Dr. Joe McLaughlin, State Epidemiologist, Department of Health and Social Services
  • Jared Kosin, President/CEO, Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association
  • Kim Kluckman, RN & Treasurer, Alaska Nurses Association

PARTICIPATE:

Call 907-550-8422 (Anchorage) or 1-800-478-8255 (statewide) during the live broadcast.

Send an email to talk@alaskapublic.org (Comments may be read on air).

Post your comment during or after the live broadcast on social media (Comments may be read on air).

LIVE Broadcast: Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 at 10 a.m. on APRN stations statewide.
LIVE Web stream: Click here to stream.

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