Alaska seeks out-of-state medical personnel amid virus surge

September 8, 2021

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Officials in Alaska have requested help from more than 470 out-of-state medical personnel in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The state has requested nurses, patient care technicians, respiratory therapists and other health care workers, Alaska’s News Source reported. There is no guarantee the state will get the personnel it is requesting, a state health department spokesperson, Elizabeth Manning, said.

Health departments from other states have made similar requests from the federal government. Hospitals nationwide are reporting strains and staffing concerns.

Manning said the emergency procurement request for out-of-state personnel was made possible through state legislation enacted earlier this year.

-snip-