Coronavirus

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy: Facts Matter

Political opportunists care more about spreading political untruths than accepting the facts.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Soldotna High School is photographed on Sept. 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

SoHi, Skyview go to universal indoor masking Monday

As of Friday, nine KPBSD schools — not including schools in “small communities” — were operating, or were going to start operating Monday, with universal indoor masking for staff and students

Soldotna High School is photographed on Sept. 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Angelique Ramirez, chief medical officer at Foundation Health Partners in Fairbanks, poses for a photograph in front of the emergency entrance at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on Friday, Oct. 1, said it activated the Crisis Standards of Care policy because of a critical shortage of bed capacity, staffing and monoclonal antibody treatments, along with the inability to transfer patients to other facilities. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

3rd Alaska hospital invokes crisis care mode in COVID spike

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital said Friday it activated the Crisis Standards of Care policy

Angelique Ramirez, chief medical officer at Foundation Health Partners in Fairbanks, poses for a photograph in front of the emergency entrance at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on Friday, Oct. 1, said it activated the Crisis Standards of Care policy because of a critical shortage of bed capacity, staffing and monoclonal antibody treatments, along with the inability to transfer patients to other facilities. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
State health officials urged pregnant people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an urgent health advisory. (File)

‘Urgent’ CDC advisory recommends pregnant people get vaccinated against COVID-19

In August, 22 pregnant individuals died of COVID in the United States, officials said.

State health officials urged pregnant people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an urgent health advisory. (File)
(Image courtesy CDC)

State COVID-19 cases continue surge

Alaska remains the state with the highest number of new cases per capita in the country.

(Image courtesy CDC)
Elia Samuelson, left, of Bethel is announced as the winner of a $49,000 scholarship for the third week of the “Give AK a Shot” COVID-19 vaccine incentive program. His mother Carol also won $10,000 cash. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Fairbanks man, Bethel teen win this week’s vaccine lottery

“Give AK a Shot” awards funds to one newly vaccinated adult resident and one newly vaccinated child resident.

Elia Samuelson, left, of Bethel is announced as the winner of a $49,000 scholarship for the third week of the “Give AK a Shot” COVID-19 vaccine incentive program. His mother Carol also won $10,000 cash. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Building opportunity from the ground up

Development district works with local operations to hone goals, find funding.

KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
(Image courtesy CDC)

State reports dwindling monoclonal antibody supply

Some shipments on backorder started to arrive Thursday, but supplies are still limited.

(Image courtesy CDC)
Christine Hill cuts out yellow Stars of David before an Anchorage Assembly meeting where the body heard public testimony from people about a proposed mask mandate on Wednesday in Anchorage. Hill, who is opposed to a mask mandate, had printed out the stars at home and was handing them out for others to wear during the meeting. She said she wore a star as a comparison to the oppression and genocide of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson apologized Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, for his comments supporting some residents’ use of Holocaust imagery to liken a proposed citywide mask mandate to the oppression of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Bronson apologizes for backing use of Holocaust imagery

He defended the use of the yellow stars, with the words “Do not comply,” worn by some attendees opposing the mask mandate.

Christine Hill cuts out yellow Stars of David before an Anchorage Assembly meeting where the body heard public testimony from people about a proposed mask mandate on Wednesday in Anchorage. Hill, who is opposed to a mask mandate, had printed out the stars at home and was handing them out for others to wear during the meeting. She said she wore a star as a comparison to the oppression and genocide of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson apologized Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, for his comments supporting some residents’ use of Holocaust imagery to liken a proposed citywide mask mandate to the oppression of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Steve Hughes. (Photo provided)

Voices of the Peninsula: We are all victims of COVID-19

It is disturbing to hear, as a triage nurse, the many reasons cited for not getting a vaccine that are based on misinformation.

Steve Hughes. (Photo provided)
Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreal at the Residence in Mission (TRIM). (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 1,009 cases, 4 deaths from COVID

The state Department of Health and Social Services reported another four COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, which pushes the statewide total to 546 since the pandemic began.… Continue reading

Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreal at the Residence in Mission (TRIM). (Image courtesy CDC)
Chinook salmon jump and swim over a weir in the Cook Slough on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021 in Silvana, Washington. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Marine safety association launches COVID vaccine campaign for commercial fishermen

The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association launched a new COVID-19 vaccination promotional campaign Tuesday, with the goal of encouraging more commercial fishermen to get their… Continue reading

Chinook salmon jump and swim over a weir in the Cook Slough on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021 in Silvana, Washington. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Alaska state data shows COVID-19 caseloads have far exceeded the winter 2020 surge. (Photo from the Alaska DHSS)

Alaska reports 4,025 COVID cases over weekend

Alaska had the most per-capita COVID-19 cases in the country again Monday, as the Department of Health and Social Services reported an additional 4,025 new… Continue reading

Alaska state data shows COVID-19 caseloads have far exceeded the winter 2020 surge. (Photo from the Alaska DHSS)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19 death toll spikes due to backlog of data

Health officials struggle to keep up with coronavirus tracking.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
FILE - In this March 12, 2020 file photo, Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, addresses reporters at a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, reported its highest number of new COVID-19 cases, a day after the state’s largest hospital announced it had entered crisis protocol and began rationing care. When many people become ill at the same time, it overwhelms the state’s health care system. "And then we start to see excess mortality where more people dying from other things such as heart attacks and strokes and car accidents and bear maulings or whatever else happens," Zink said. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Zink: Health care workers face increasing hostility

Health care professionals with the state have borne the brunt of scrutiny during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have even reported violence on the job, officials… Continue reading

FILE - In this March 12, 2020 file photo, Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, addresses reporters at a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, reported its highest number of new COVID-19 cases, a day after the state’s largest hospital announced it had entered crisis protocol and began rationing care. When many people become ill at the same time, it overwhelms the state’s health care system. "And then we start to see excess mortality where more people dying from other things such as heart attacks and strokes and car accidents and bear maulings or whatever else happens," Zink said. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a COVID-19 vaccination drive-thru clinic at Evraz Place in Regina on Thursday, April 15, 2021. Saskatchewan’s only children’s hospital is opening its pediatric intensive care unit to younger adults who have COVID-19 as the province runs out of critical care beds. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor

Weekly vaccine lottery winners announced

The Alaska Chamber of Commerce announced the second week’s lottery winners Thursday, as part of the “Give AK a Shot” COVID-19 vaccine incentive program. Ashley… Continue reading

A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a COVID-19 vaccination drive-thru clinic at Evraz Place in Regina on Thursday, April 15, 2021. Saskatchewan’s only children’s hospital is opening its pediatric intensive care unit to younger adults who have COVID-19 as the province runs out of critical care beds. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 7 recent COVID-19 deaths

The state Department of Health and Social Services reported another seven recent COVID-19 deaths Thursday. They were two Fairbanks men over 70, a Palmer man… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Another COVID death, more than 1,200 new cases reported statewide

Statewide, there were 213 COVID-related hospitalizations as of Wednesday.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the state during a COVID-19 press briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (screenshot)

Health care workers contracted from Lower 48 to help Alaska’s COVID crisis

Alaska has been reporting the highest number of COVID cases per capita in the nation this week.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the state during a COVID-19 press briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (screenshot)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, bottom right, participates in a press conference via Zoom videoconferencing along with members of his public health team on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. Top left: Jamie Hartung, interpreter; top right: Heidi Hedburg, director of Public Health; center left: Dr. Joe McLaughlin, chief of the Alaska Section of Epidemiology at the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services; center right: Adam Crum, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services; bottom left: Dr. Anne Zink, chief medical officer; bottom right: Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Screenshot by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

‘We always knew that virus cases were going to rise’

In first press conference in almost two months, Dunleavy addresses recent virus surge

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, bottom right, participates in a press conference via Zoom videoconferencing along with members of his public health team on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. Top left: Jamie Hartung, interpreter; top right: Heidi Hedburg, director of Public Health; center left: Dr. Joe McLaughlin, chief of the Alaska Section of Epidemiology at the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services; center right: Adam Crum, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services; bottom left: Dr. Anne Zink, chief medical officer; bottom right: Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Screenshot by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)