Organizations and businesses in the Y-K Delta have closed their doors by choice or governmnet mandate to aid social distancing and limit the chance of spreading COVID-19. Other groups are remaining open and taking steps to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. KYUK will keep this list updated with organizations that are open or closed. Please email news@kyuk.org to let us know about changes at your organization.
According to a state order, Alaska business can open at full capacity on May 22 and sports can resume. Alaskans should still remain six feet apart from people not in their household and remain careful in large groups. It will be up to the business to decide how they will operate. The mandate requiring a 14-day quarantine for people traveling into Alaska is still in place.
CLOSED
As of March 17, the Alaska Village Electric Cooperation has closed its Anchorage and Bethel offices to members and visitors, according to CEO Meera Kohler. People can still pay their bills online, over the phone, or at the kiosk in Bethel, which is located right outside the AVEC office in the Alaska Commercial Company store.
Bethel 4-H is closed. Bethel 4-H is a part of UAF.
The Bethel Veterans of Foreign Wars building has closed its doors to bingo and pull tab sales until further notice.
The City of Bethel Public Transit System has shut down all buses starting March 26 for two weeks.
All City of Bethel municipal buildings are closed as of March 19. Those include city hall, the finance office, the fire department, the police station, and the public works building. All city services are still operating, but will only be accessible to the public telephonically. The phone numbers for all city departments are available on the city's website.
Cultural Center and AVCP Museum are closed until further notice.
The Legislative Information Offices in rural areas, including Bethel, will currently only be taking phone calls.
Bethel's movie theater, Suurvik Cinema, is closed as part of the state mandate until further notice.
As of March 18, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kuskokwim Campus is only open by appointment. Students will have to call ahead of time to use computers, talk to advisors, or study on campus.
The Kuskokwim Consortium Library will remain partially closed, to comply with the University of Alaska policy. Book check out and other services are available via curbside pick-up.
Ravn went bankrupt and will not be flying until further notice.
Most Bethel churches will remain closed until all social distancing mandates are lifted. This includes the Bethel Covenant Evangelical Church, the Moravian Church, the United Pentecostal Church, and the Baptist Pastor Church.
OPEN
Grocery stores AC and Swanson’s in Bethel will remain open. Swanson’s Manager Jim Parish says that customers may see shortages of toilet paper, medicine, and sanitation supplies like everywhere else in the United States. AC and Swanson’s are requiring all customers to wear facemask when entering the store.
Arctic Chiropractic, Physical Therapy and Massage will be open beginning Monday April 20th. They will be operating within the parameters of the most recent State of Alaska Health Mandate
All patients will be screened prior to scheduling and may not enter our office if:
1. You have had cold/flu like symptoms (including but not limited to fever, cough, chills, runny nose, sore throat) within the past 2 weeks.
2. You have travelled outside of Bethel within the past 2 weeks.
3. You have come in contact with a known or suspected case of COVID-19
Telemedicine options are available to help those who do not pass our screening and/or are currently self quarantined.
Kusko cab and Alaska Cab are returning to a rideshare system. Cabs can voluntarily limit the number of passengers they pick up, but they will not be required to do so.
The Association of Village Council Presidents has suspended all nonessential business travel for employees and is open to clients by appointment only. It has closed Head Start and its Bethel museum.
Hearings at the Bethel Courthouse are still being held in person. On March 17, the court had advised all parties to call in telephonically, but as of Wednesday morning, March 18, parties are expected to show up at the courthouse unless they are feeling sick. The court’s website says if you feel sick or suspect you have COVID-19 then call the courthouse.
Bethel Family Clinic is open but is no longer accepting nonessential, elective dental procedures. They are referring patients with COVID-19 symptomsto the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, but patients will not be turned away if they prefer to be seen at Bethel Family Clinic. Bethel Family Clinic Behavioral Health is also still seeing patients, but sessions will be done over the phone or via teleconference when possible.
People would still need a place to stay in the case of a coronavirus outbreak. Bethel Winter House and Tundra Women’s Coalition are remaining open for the time being. Bethel Winter House Board President Jon Cochrane says that Bethel Winter House will screen for coughing and fevers at the door, and do extra cleaning of all surfaces. TWC Director Eileen Arnold reported concerns of overcrowding in the facility, but said that the building is always kept extremely clean.
Bethel's second marijuana store, Kusko Kush, is maintaining normal business hours and encouraging employees to sanitize their hands.
Beginning March 18, the Bethel GCI store will limit its hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, and will be closed Saturdays and Sundays. GCI encourages customers to call, email, or online chat with their employees instead of coming into stores.
Grant Aviation is procuring a special type of cleaning material to wipe down its small airplanes. Meanwhile, the airline is using antiseptic and wipes until the special cleaner arrives. Grant is also a LifeMed provider with YKHC.
Yukon Kuskokwim Fitness Center will be openfrom 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. starting Saturday, May 9th. Guests will be required to wear masks in all common areas including the locker room. Masks can only be removed when guests are in the pool, shower, and cardio work out room. In addition, children under the age of 16 will require adult supervision.