A Ketchikan resident has tested positive for coronavirus. That's according to state and local officials who said Tuesday the local government employee is the state's sixth confirmed case and first in Southeast Alaska. The infected individual is a Ketchikan borough employee that had recently returned from the Lower 48. The state Division of Public Health relayed the results to local officials on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, state health officials interviewed the individual about their activities since returning to Ketchikan earlier this month. "They provided detailed information about everyone they were in contact with, their routine, the places that they went, the people that they encountered," said Kacie Paxton, spokesperson for Ketchikan's emergency operations center.  

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Monday evening that all libraries, archives and museums in the state must remain closed until the end of the month to limit the spread of the coronavirus. In Kodiak, the announcement was met with closed doors. The library and museums, including the Kodiak History Museum and Alutiiq Museum, had already announced they would remain closed until the threat of the virus decreased. The governor also signed legislation that provides $4 million in state funds to the Department of Health and Social Services. The funding will be used to fill temporary positions to travel as needed to rural communities to monitor and screen for the virus. As of Monday evening, 250 people in Alaska had been tested for the coronavirus. Three people had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Alaska, including a cargo plane pilot who was transiting through Anchorage last week.  

New York City could soon be placed under a "shelter-in-place" order to contain the coronavirus — here's what it would mean for the Big Apple's 8.6 million residents. Under the strict public health measure, all non-essential businesses would be shut down. That means only police and fire departments, hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies and perhaps gas stations, banks and laundromats would remain open. The move would ramp up the lockdown that's already been enacted in the city, where theaters, gyms, libraries and museums have closed and bars and restaurants are only doing takeout and delivery. "It's taking some of the rules we're encouraging people to follow now making them tighter and reducing the workforce greatly and reducing travel greatly," Mayor Bill de Blasio said, warning that food service and retail could be shut down.  

The head of a local union is concerned that not enough is being done to protect firefighters and the public during the coronavirus outbreak. Ralph Sicuro, president of the International Association of Firefighters Pittsburgh Local 1, says they are already seeing how fast the virus can spread. Sicuro tells KDKA additional protective gear was given out like masks and gowns, but the firefighters do not feel it is enough protection. Now Sicuro and others are calling on state officials to provide firefighters with the information to protect the first responders. "Anybody's concern is that their job would put them in contact with potential patients or potentially infected patients with the (coronavirus)," Sicuro said. The city's first responders are calling on the state to provide someone within their department the names of patients who tested positive for the coronavirus in Pittsburgh.  

VIDEO: The novel coronavirus is changing the way first responders with the Orange County Fire Authority respond to calls. Crews demonstrated what it will look like in a mock call Tuesday. If it doesn't put a life at risk, dispatchers will screen callers. For patients showing symptoms of novel coronavirus, crews will wear their personal protective equipment. That's masks and gowns added to the usual gloves and goggles. Capt. Jason Fairchild with OCFA Incident Management Team said symptomatic patients will be asked to meet the responding crew outside. "When they take the 911 call, they're trying to direct people if they're able to walk and do so safely, we would like them to come outside," Fairchild said. All patients will get a mask right away just in case to reduce the risk of exposure to firefighters and the public.  

The death of Cowlitz 2 battalion chief Mickel Zainfeld has prompted local agencies and grassroots groups to boost efforts to help firefighters, police and other first responders cope with the emotional trauma of their jobs. And one way may be for both them and the public to tone down the superhero image they bear. "I think one of the big challenges is just the need for culture change," Cowlitz County chaplain Doug Fields said. "I think first responders are no different than the rest of the community. … There is still a stigma that if you ask for mental health (help), reach out to a counselor, therapist or pastor … somebody's going to think less of you." There are "years and years of history" of a culture around being tough and "getting over it and moving on" after hard calls, Fields said. Zainfeld, 41, took his own life September, and his death was officially declared work-related due to his diagnosis of work-related PTSD.  

Amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, Old Fourth Distillery has been distributing make-shift bottles of hand sanitizer. Starting today they are shifting their efforts and giving back to those on the front lines. Co-Owner of Old Fourth Distillery Jeff Moore has been making hand sanitizer with their own in-house alcohol. "It was really something that helped us not feel so helpless. We were able to play a small role in comforting people in this time of need," said Moore. Thousands of people liked, commented and shared his new initiative on social media. "Everybody has gotten together to support one another and that is just incredible," said Moore. At first Moore Was handing the hand sanitizer out to everyone, but as the crisis worsens, he's now only giving it to first responders. "Hospitals and the fire and the police and the sheriff's department," he explained.