The Yukon-Kuskokwim Fitness Center plans to open to 40% capacity on May 3. Facility Director Stacey Reardon says recreational areas of the fitness center will be open only to those who have been vaccinated, but the pool and family locker room will be open to unvaccinated individuals with reservations. The pool is one of the only areas of the fitness center where people don’t wear masks.
Reardon says that the facility is reopening to unvaccinated individuals because the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta has maintained a relatively stable COVID-19 case rate for two weeks now, coupled with high rates of vaccination. This downgrades the region from being at “high” risk of widespread transmission to “moderate” risk. The criteria for case transmission is based on a formula written by the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation. That formula is the result of a number of factors, like overall case rate and number of people vaccinated.
Correction: A previous version of this story said that the pool will be open to vaccinated individuals, and the recreational areas will be open to all. KYUK was reporting on information read from Bethel City Manager Pete Williams during the Bethel City Council meeting on April 27. That information from the meeting is incorrect. The pool will be open to unvaccinated people with appointments, and the recreational areas will be open only for those who have been vaccinated
