Coronavirus

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to consider extension of disaster declaration

If approved, the declaration would be extended to Feb. 28

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

More than 55,000 Alaskans have received initial vaccine

DHSS announced 153 new COVID-19 cases in Alaska on Monday

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
Ryanna Thurman uses a holds locker at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Library unveils curbside holds locker

Technology from the Final Frontier arrives in the Last Frontier

Ryanna Thurman uses a holds locker at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

Statewide cases trend downward

1,680 new resident cases were reported in Alaska this week

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Schools head to ‘medium’ risk

Eastern and southern peninsula schools may return to in-person learning five days a week for all grades on Jan. 25

Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs advertising COVID-19 safety protocoals stand outside the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Oct. 6, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Divided council loosens sports complex protocols

The changes will allow more spectators, more people on the ice and new mask protocols

Signs advertising COVID-19 safety protocoals stand outside the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Oct. 6, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

More than 10,000 Alaskans have received both doses of COVID vaccine

The state also reported 11 new hospitalizations and two deaths.

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

More than 35,000 Alaskans have received inital COVID vaccine dose

More than 7,000 have already received both doses of their vaccine

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

As in-person learning resumes, parents ask for more changes

Many called for allowing students in all grades to resume in-person learning five days a week or for eliminating mask requirements for student athletes while active.

Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

159 new cases, 10 on peninsula

Affected peninsula communities include Kenai, Homer, Soldotna, Anchor Point and Sterling

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
An area set up to administer doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
An area set up to administer doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Large vaccine clinics to happen later this month

Clinics are being offered by Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Nikiski Fire/OEM

An area set up to administer doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
An area set up to administer doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Vaughn Dosko adjusts a basket for sanitizing rags at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More students resume in-person learning

Students returned to in-person learning on Monday in response to downward trends in COVID-19 case trajectories

Vaughn Dosko adjusts a basket for sanitizing rags at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

Vaccinations for 65-plus expected to continue through February

The state opened up vaccinations for Alaskans 65 and older earlier this month

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai facility restrictions begin to loosen

Some restrictions are being relaxed in response to decreasing COVID-19 case numbers

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Vaughn Dosko (left) and Sarah Hutchison (right) discuss COVID-19 mitigation in Hutchison’s classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A change in culture’: Kenai Middle prepares for return of more students

The school is one of many preparing for the return of more students to in-person learning on Monday

Vaughn Dosko (left) and Sarah Hutchison (right) discuss COVID-19 mitigation in Hutchison’s classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

Weekly cases higher than last week

Alaska finished the week by reporting 411 new COVID-19 cases in the state on Friday

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Scheduling system prompts confusion in vaccine rollout

Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink took to Twitter to clarify some of the confusion surrounding the scheduling process.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Bryan Stogsdill (left) and McKenzie McCarthy (right) hoist materials to the top of a communications tower on Thursday, Jan. 7 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tower construction promises rural internet expansion

The new communications towers are intended to help expand rural internet access

Bryan Stogsdill (left) and McKenzie McCarthy (right) hoist materials to the top of a communications tower on Thursday, Jan. 7 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

State reports 10 new COVID-19 cases on peninsula

338 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Alaska on Thursday

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

DHSS: 353 new cases; 15 on peninsula

Affected communities include Kenai, Soldotna, Nikiski, Homer, Other North and Sterling

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)