Tag: coronavirus

alaska canadian border sig

American travelers cited for violating Canadian COVID-19 restrictions

American travelers on their way to Alaska were found to have been at a restaurant without proper masking and in close contact with others inside the restaurant.
A sign says Anchorage School District.

Anchorage Schools Superintendent: ‘COVID is killing our children in more ways than one’

Anchorage School District Superintendent Deena Bishop provided a bleak assessment of online learning at Tuesday night’s school board meeting.

Alaska case count hits new high, but hospitals aren’t sounding alarms

In the past week, nearly 11% of tests in Fairbanks have been positive, while that number stands at 5% for Anchorage. Statewide, it’s at 4.19%, which is a new record; the World Health Organization says that areas should not loosen restrictions until rates stand below 5% over a two-week period.
A Regal Cinemas movie theater in East Anchorage.

Shortly after reopening, four Alaska movie theaters will close Thursday

On Monday, Cineworld, the parent company of Regal, announced the temporary suspension of operations at all of its U.S. theaters, as of Thursday, Oct. 8.
A man sits at a picnic table at a restaurant.

Anchorage businesses owners look toward another season of pandemic-related challenges

The season is changing, and some businesses didn’t survive the summer. The ones that did are now preparing for the long winter ahead.
two people standing in front of a totem pole and building

Alaska jury trials remain paused for coronavirus, leaving some Alaskans in limbo

The shutdown is to prevent the spread of Covid-19. And while misdemeanor trials are set to resume in November -- because they require fewer jurors, and therefore allow for better social distancing -- there is no solid timetable yet for restarting jury trials for felonies.
An empty chamber as seen from a lectern

Leaders on the Kenai Peninsula express skepticism about masks and the virus

Assembly and council members at three different assembly meetings at different parts of the Kenai Peninsula revealed some skepticism about how serious - and real - the COVID-19 virus is.
A rid school building with an american flag on top

Mt. Edgecumbe student tests positive for coronavirus, prompting campus lockdown

Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka briefly locked down and quarantined around 25 students, after another student at the state-run boarding school tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this week.
A teacher sits at her desk in a classroom full of tables and chairs but no students

It’s official: Anchorage School District postpones start of in-person classes

Anchorage Schools Superintendent Deena Bishop had mentioned earlier this week that a rapid increase in COVID infections would likely delay bringing kids back to classrooms.

Anchorage School District superintendent expects to postpone start of in-person classes

Anchorage Schools Superintendent Deena Bishop said she'll likely push back the return to in-person schooling because of a surge of COVID-19 infections in the city.
A square tan and grey building

COVID-19 unemployment boost may arrive mid-October

A program to boost unemployment benefits for Alaskans out of work because of the pandemic is still weeks away from implementation.  In mid-August, the state...
Red billowy objexxt with blue rods latching onto them

State announces four new COVID-19 deaths over weekend

10 deaths were announced by the state since Friday, though most aren't considered 'recent' and were found through data review.
a person wearing a mask teaching students

‘It has exceeded my expectations’: Here’s what in-person school looks like in Mat-Su

By-and-large, students, teachers and administrators are happy to be back in schools, even if it means wearing uncomfortable masks.
City Hall in downtown Anchorage.

City proposes CARES Act reappropriation to simplify relief spending

The municipality is proposing to use relief money to pay first responders like police, fire and public health workers. Then the general municipal funds that normally pay for first responders would fund the relief projects.
a river with a small town on the oxbow as seen from an airpllane.

Buckland sees large spike of COVID-19 with 11 new cases

All of the cases are currently isolating in Buckland, according to local health officials.

COVID-19 almost sank the Haines bookstore. A local author’s national fans saved sales

Kane opened in March, a week before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down retailers for months.
Two children stand next to a big, inflatable duck, holding signs advertising ticket sales for the Great Alaska Duck Race.

Online raffles are temporarily approved in Alaska, as non-profits adjust to pandemic precautions

The rule change is set to expire on November 15, when the state’s COVID-19 emergency disaster declaration ends.
A woman in a white suit holds a blue surgical mask.

Why does Alaska have the country’s lowest COVID-19 death rate? Doctors explain.

Doctors say early, aggressive restrictions have helped keep the number of deaths in Alaska tied to COVID-19 low. But, they caution, the numbers can change quickly and it is not time to let your guard down.