Megan Pacer

Registered Nurse Cathy Davis (left) and Chief Nursing Officer Dawn Johnson (right) work at a table to get COVID-19 tests ready for the public Friday, May 29, 2020 at the Boat House Pavilion on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Expanding testing available on southern peninsula

South Peninsula Hospital announced last week it would begin offering free, rapid COVID-19 testing.

Registered Nurse Cathy Davis (left) and Chief Nursing Officer Dawn Johnson (right) work at a table to get COVID-19 tests ready for the public Friday, May 29, 2020 at the Boat House Pavilion on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Registered Nurse Cathy Davis (left) and Chief Nursing Officer Dawn Johnson (right) work at a table to get COVID-19 tests ready for the public Friday, May 29, 2020 at the Boat House Pavilion on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. South Peninsula Hospital is now offering free COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic people with no appointments necessary at the Boat House Pavilion through June 6. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

1 new COVID-19 case in Homer as hospital offers free testing on the Spit

Additional COVID-19 cases announced in Soldotna and in a nonresident visitor to the peninsula

Registered Nurse Cathy Davis (left) and Chief Nursing Officer Dawn Johnson (right) work at a table to get COVID-19 tests ready for the public Friday, May 29, 2020 at the Boat House Pavilion on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. South Peninsula Hospital is now offering free COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic people with no appointments necessary at the Boat House Pavilion through June 6. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
COVID-19. (CDC)

7 new cases of COVID-19 on Kenai Peninsula

4 of the new cases are on the southern peninsula, and Nikiski has its first case

COVID-19. (CDC)
Photos by Megan Pacer / Homer News                                Music lovers listen to a performance on the River Stage at Salmonfest on Aug. 4, 2018, in Ninilchik.

Salmonfest music festival canceled for 2020

Salmonfest director confident next year’s festival will go ahead as planned.

Photos by Megan Pacer / Homer News                                Music lovers listen to a performance on the River Stage at Salmonfest on Aug. 4, 2018, in Ninilchik.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a Friday, March 27, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

Governor’s team expands on new guidelines, PFD

With Alaska’s businesses and most other public entities set to reopen at full capacity on Friday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy and his administration are launching a… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a Friday, March 27, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
A sample death certificate from “Vital Statistics Reporting Guidance,” an April 2020 report by the Centers for Disease Control on how to record COVID-19 in deaths shows a hypothetical scenario for a woman who died of acute respiratory distress syndrome. (Illustration courtesy CDC)

How are COVID-19 deaths recorded? A crash course on death certificates

State experts provide clarification on how deaths are reported during coronavirus pandemic

A sample death certificate from “Vital Statistics Reporting Guidance,” an April 2020 report by the Centers for Disease Control on how to record COVID-19 in deaths shows a hypothetical scenario for a woman who died of acute respiratory distress syndrome. (Illustration courtesy CDC)
Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, speaks during a May 11, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

Seasonal worker has COVID-19 in Dillingham; 5th Homer resident tests positive

State extends mandatory quarantine for visitors, updates commercial fishing guidelines

Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, speaks during a May 11, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
Fishing charters ask for modified regulations during COVID-19 pandemic

Fishing charters ask for modified regulations during COVID-19 pandemic

Fishing charters are currently allowed to operate at 50% capacity with people from different households.

Fishing charters ask for modified regulations during COVID-19 pandemic
This aerial photo shows how retardant was used to slow the advance of a wildfire toward cabins threatened by the Murray Fire in the Caribou Hills on Sunday, May 10, 2020 near Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Duane Morris/Alaska Division of Forestry)

Ninilchik Emergency Services, state forestry contain wildland fire near Ninilchik

Blaze threatened 2 homes and was started by juveniles playing with fireworks

This aerial photo shows how retardant was used to slow the advance of a wildfire toward cabins threatened by the Murray Fire in the Caribou Hills on Sunday, May 10, 2020 near Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Duane Morris/Alaska Division of Forestry)
COVID-19. (CDC)

2 new COVID-19 cases in Juneau

Juneau has reported new cases of COVID-19 for the first time since the middle of April. The City and Borough of Juneau and the Alaska… Continue reading

COVID-19. (CDC)
COVID-19. (CDC)

Only new COVID-19 case is a Kenai woman

Updated state guidelines hash out face coverings

COVID-19. (CDC)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a Friday, May 1, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

3 new COVID-19 cases all from Anchorage

Updated state guidelines hash out face coverings

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a Friday, May 1, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
Photo courtesy Seldovia Village Tribe                                 Staff with the Seldovia Village Tribe Health and Wellness Center and the Seldovia Village Tribal Administration conduct free COVID-19 testing April 29 in Seldovia.

Following community testing event, Seldovia Village Tribe finds no positive cases

Tests results show 168 people in village are negative for COVID-19

Photo courtesy Seldovia Village Tribe                                 Staff with the Seldovia Village Tribe Health and Wellness Center and the Seldovia Village Tribal Administration conduct free COVID-19 testing April 29 in Seldovia.
COVID-19. (CDC)

Anchor Point man is 10th Alaskan to die from COVID-19

In addition to this 10th death, the state reported one new case of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

COVID-19. (CDC)
COVID-19. (CDC)

1 new COVID-19 case announced Tuesday

The state total is 371 positive cases.

COVID-19. (CDC)
Signs on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the main entrance to South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska, warn visitors not to enter until they have been met by hospital staff. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

2 new COVID-19 cases announced at South Peninsula Hospital

One case is from community transmission, the other still under investigation

Signs on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the main entrance to South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska, warn visitors not to enter until they have been met by hospital staff. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Alaska sees no new COVID-19 cases on Saturday

Total number of cases rests at 339, while 217 have recovered

Ashley Story gives a haircut to client Michael Halstead on Friday at her salon Short Cuts on Lake Street in Homer, Alaska. Story’s is one of several Homer businesses to reopen their doors Friday according to relaxed state restrictions, while several others have opted to wait. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

State allows some gatherings; businesses begin reopening

Indoor gatherings will be limited to 20 people, or 25% capacity of the site, whichever is smaller.

Ashley Story gives a haircut to client Michael Halstead on Friday at her salon Short Cuts on Lake Street in Homer, Alaska. Story’s is one of several Homer businesses to reopen their doors Friday according to relaxed state restrictions, while several others have opted to wait. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a Monday, April 20, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a Monday, April 20, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
Two people shake hands at a community gathering and barbecue at the beach Saturday, April 18, 2020 at Mariner Park in Homer, Alaska. The event was hosted by Homer’s Sons of Liberty to assert the right to assemble. Organizers said attendees were encouraged to practice social distancing guidelines. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Homer group holds beach barbecue with social distancing mandate still in place

Homer’s Sons of Liberty advocate right to assemble, while Alaska’s economy inches toward reopening

Two people shake hands at a community gathering and barbecue at the beach Saturday, April 18, 2020 at Mariner Park in Homer, Alaska. The event was hosted by Homer’s Sons of Liberty to assert the right to assemble. Organizers said attendees were encouraged to practice social distancing guidelines. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)