In Alaska’s Covid Crisis, Doctors Must Decide Who Lives and Who Dies

“Our goal has always been to avoid overloading the systems,” says Dr. Zinc. “And at the moment we have overwhelmed the systems.”

Governor Dunleavy has avoided ordering a nationwide mask mandate or other restrictions during the recent surge, saying such requirements should be decided locally in a huge state where some communities have had few or no cases. A draft nationwide mask mandate was drawn up at the start of the pandemic, said Dr. Zinc, but it was never implemented.

For every Covid-19 patient, Dr. Zinc, she wonders if she could have done more, something she could have said, to convince more people to get vaccinated or take precautions.

She became a household name at the start of the pandemic when she gave video briefings to the public from a heated yurt behind her family’s home. She was widely praised in many corners of the state. On a new day while a couple was talking to a reporter in an Anchorage park, a couple walking their dog recognized Dr. Zinc and waved. “We’re fans,” the man shouted.

But dr. Zink spends his time reaching out to people who aren’t fans. She appeared on the conservative talk radio, answering questions and trying to allay fears about the vaccines.

While some people have made up their minds, Dr. Zinc, she still regularly encounters others who choose to be vaccinated. A government survey found that 60 percent of unvaccinated people are open to it. To encourage people to think about vaccines, she often uses references to moose hunting and berry hunting and all the ways that Alaskans are used to taking care of themselves and each other.

“Just like when we go out in a storm, we pile up,” she said.

“We do several things together: we change our winter tires and wear a jacket and a hat,” she said. “So make sure you’re vaccinated, wear a mask, and keep your distance. We know how to do it. “