Health

On March 19, the state’s emergency room directors published a plea in Alaska’s largest newspaper: Close down airports to non-essential air travel from outside.

The village of Kwethluk has put in place several measures to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The measures were put into effect on March 19.

Ketchikan now has its third confirmed case of coronavirus: a person who was a close contact of the Southeast city’s first case.

The lower Yukon community of Grayling has adopted what might be the strictest measures in Alaska for protecting residents from contracting or spreading the coronavirus.

All municipal buildings in Bethel are now closed to the public. City hall, the finance office, the fire department, the police station, and the public works building all locked their doors on March 19. Acting City Manager Bill Howell says that this action was taken in order to keep city services operating, at least telephonically.

A new Alaska mandate has banned elective health procedures for three months to increase health care capacity and preserve personal protective equipment, such as face masks. Already, some hospitals nationwide are rationing face masks for their nurses and doctors.  

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and state health officials announced Thursday that the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Alaska has grown to 12.

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus and protect vulnerable populations, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation is limiting visitors to its Bethel facilities, beginning March 19.

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation is suspending elective dental and eye appointments for three weeks to protect the health of its employees from the coronavirus.