Tag: coronavirus

‘The most difficult year’: How the coronavirus pandemic changed one Anchorage city block

The Anchorage block has restaurants, a retail shop, office space and vacant storefronts. Together, they provide a view of how businesses have struggled, especially in the city's downtown core, as a multi-year recession glided into a pandemic.

We asked all 60 Alaska legislators if they’re getting vaccinated. Here’s what they said.

A survey of Alaska lawmakers underscores the depth of the state's partisan vaccine divide in Alaska. All but one Democrat said they're getting the shot, while 20 of the 34 Republican lawmakers either refused to answer or did not respond.
a person administers a vaccine to another person

COVID-19 vaccines may soon come to Alaska’s busiest airports

The state’s top doctor says she wants to make it as easy as possible for people to get vaccinated, and offering single-dose shots at airports could be a key piece of the puzzle.
A hearing room with people seated around a dais.

Patients, hospitals want Dunleavy and lawmakers to work out differences on disaster declaration

One of the consequences of not having an active disaster declaration is that out-of-state doctors can't practice telemedicine on Alaska patients.
A student wearing a face mask, a baseball hat and a backpack stands in front of a school building.

A year in: Alaskans recount the moment they knew the coronavirus would change everything

Over the last year, it seems everyone had a moment when the pandemic hit home — when we realized the coronavirus was not going away quickly, and would change everything. We recently asked Alaskans to share their moment. Here’s what 11 people said.

Anchorage wants to let Alaskans turn smartphones into COVID-trackers. State officials aren’t sold yet.

Anchorage officials say they’re pushing closer to the launch of a smartphone app that could alert people they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, though the initiative is still waiting for Alaska GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration to approve it.

LISTEN: Economic Impact Payments are beginning to hit bank accounts. Here’s what you need to know.

The American Rescue Plan, which includes another round of federal relief money for Americans impacted by the pandemic.
a vial of covid-19 vaccine

As Mat-Su vaccine appointments go unfilled, fears grow about misinformation and hesitancy

When Mat-Su public health officials organized a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic Tuesday at the Alaska State Fair grounds, one-third of the 1,000 appointments went unfilled — even after some providers launched a last-minute blitz to promote the event.
A for sale sign in front of a white house.

Alaska’s pandemic housing boom driven by interest rates, tight inventory and shifting attitudes

The housing market’s upswing doesn’t account for thousands of Alaskans who are struggling to make ends meet.

Over a dozen people cite Palmer banquet attended by governor, lawmakers as possible source of COVID-19 infection

The Alaska Outdoor Council banquet on Feb. 20 in Palmer was attended by Gov. Mike Dunleavy and state Rep. Mike Cronk, R-Tok. Both tested positive for COVID-19 days later, on Feb. 24, though it’s not clear whether either of them became infected at the event.
a person receives a vaccination

With many Alaska vaccine appointments unfilled, officials want you to know: You could be ‘essential’

After months of tight vaccine supply, the state of Alaska last week made a massive expansion of the groups eligible for shots. But it’s not clear that the expanded criteria are fully registering with Alaskans yet, public health officials said at a briefing for reporters Monday.
A white man gestures at a podium

GOP Gov. Dunleavy says he’s recovered from COVID-19, and nudges Alaskans on vaccines

Alaska Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy said Friday that he’s feeling better and nearing the end of his isolation after getting sick with COVID-19 — and, he added, he didn’t even lose his sense of smell or taste
Barren shelves in a grocery store.

A year of pandemic: What was the moment when you realized everything had changed ?

The coronavirus has turned so much that we took for granted upside down. Tell us about the moment you first realized just how much life would change.

Cordova gets a tough lesson in COVID-19 transmission — from its police chief

The story starts with the police chief returning from an out-of-state trip and, instead of quarantining, coaching a wrestling practice. It ends with roughly 10% of Cordova residents in quarantine, school closures and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter aborting a supply mission because some of its crew members were exposed.

Unscathed: These Alaska villages are reaching herd immunity — without a single case of COVID-19

Alaska's unique geography and isolation have helped at least 10 villages record zero cases of COVID-19. The list of communities stretches from Southeast Alaska to the Aleutian Islands to deep in the Interior, and some of them have vaccinated nearly all of their adults.
a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine

Alaska’s federal allocation of COVID-19 vaccine will nearly double in March

The federal government's monthly shipment of COVID-19 vaccine to Alaska will nearly double in March, rising to 103,000 first doses from the 61,000 allocated to the state in February.

LISTEN: What another summer without cruise ships could mean for Alaska’s economy

Alaska lost 27,000 jobs in 2020. And, while the whole state suffered, regions that depend on tourism were hit especially hard.

Alaska’s governor is quarantining after possible coronavirus exposure

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is quarantining at his home in Wasilla after one of his close contacts tested positive for COVID-19, the governor's office said in a prepared statement Monday.
a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine

Bad weather Outside delays 3,000 Alaska vaccine doses

The doses were in shipments headed for 21 different providers, and some are having to postpone clinics until the vaccine can arrive next week.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy

Vaccines and safety measures hang in the balance as Alaska lawmakers allow COVID-19 response power to expire

Lawmakers are allowing Alaska's emergency authority to respond to COVID-19 to expire. But the pandemic isn't over — so what's the plan now?