While the Kenai transforms into a tourism and fishing hub during the summer, officials there don’t blame the high case rate on any particular factor.
Fisheries
American Seafoods has had more than 100 COVID-19 cases on fishing vessels scheduled to come to Alaska this summer
If companies can put appropriate quarantine procedures in place before boarding, fishing crews stand a good chance of remaining uninfected with COVID-19, largely because of vessels’ isolation at sea.
High levels of toxins found in blue mussels from Juneau shellfish
A group that monitors shellfish toxin levels is warning Juneau residents not to consume shellfish from locations in the Auke Bay area.
11 workers at Whittier seafood plant test positive for COVID
In a press release, the state Department of Health and Social Services wrote that the workers did not interact with the public. “After arriving in Whittier, the workers were quarantined, screened daily and tested,” read the release.
State reports largest daily spike in nonresident coronavirus cases, with 18 positives
The total number of nonresident coronavirus cases now stands at 41. The majority of those have been seafood workers.
Seafood industry workers test positive for COVID-19, marking first cases In Unalaska
The two men are asymptomatic and were moved to isolation in Unalaska testing positive for the virus.
18 more Alaskans, plus another nonresident seafood worker test positive for coronavirus
So far, the state has recorded a total of 505 cases among residents, with 373 recoveries. There are 22 cases among nonresidents, 15 of them are seafood workers from out of state.
Alaska’s COVID-19 plans for fishing communities are now being put to the test
Alaska’s seafood industry sprawls across dozens of communities and thousands of miles of coastline. But one common theme is that this summer’s fishing season represents uncharted waters.
30-bed field hospital arrives in Bristol Bay Borough, courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse
The Bristol Bay borough is the epicenter of fish processing during the short sockeye fishery, and its population grows exponentially as seafood workers and fishermen come to the region.
Sen. Murkowski pushes for an additional $1 billion in federal fisheries relief funds
Alaska’s fishing industry was allocated $50 million in CARES Act funding in early May