Passengers on Alaska’s mainline ferries are now being required to get a COVID-19 test before traveling.
Health
Cruise industry chooses to cancel sailings to U.S. ports until mid-September
The move chips away at some of the last remaining big-ship cruises on Southeast Alaska’s schedule.
For Yukon-Kuskokwim elders, pandemic brings back memories of TB
Tuberculosis hit rural Alaska hard during the first half of the 20th century, and generations of Alaska Natives were separated from their culture while they were in hospitals recovering; some never returned.
Tribal governments have been waiting since April for permission to hunt during pandemic
That decision is typically granted by a federal board, but because everything about the pandemic is unprecedented, it hasn’t been simple.
Feds drop charges for released California inmate who allegedly violated coronavirus quarantine
Duane Fields, 48, is the only person known to have been criminally prosecuted in the state for violating coronavirus quarantine rules.
State makes more funding available for Alaska childcare providers
Alaska’s childcare providers initially requested a total of $9 million. But the office was only allocated $6.4 million in federal CARES Act funds, an amount the state discovered after announcing a plan for monthly payments to providers.
Ketchikan officials urge calm while police investigate individual who broke COVID-19 quarantine
The impacts of an infected person breaking quarantine are far-ranging: Ketchikan Public Utilities’ sole customer service office is closed. Ketchikan Little League announced it would suspend three divisions for at least two weeks.
Fixes underway to COVID-19 testing at Alaska’s airports, after long waits for results
Alaska health officials acknowledge that the testing system had issues in the beginning that led to some delays and confusion. But they say fixes are underway, and the process should be smoother and faster now.
Instead of guiding this summer, seasonal workers are helping with COVID-19 testing at Sitka’s airport
Allen Marine normally operates tour boats out of Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan. But with tourism numbers way down because of the coronavirus, they’re branching out.
Alaska’s salmon industry contends with a rumor from China that you can get COVID-19 from seafood
Fish marketing experts are assessing how the rumors could affect Alaska salmon’s image in the world.