Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink speaks at a press conference on Friday, March 20, 2020

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink speaks at a press conference on Friday, March 20, 2020

1 new case in Sterling as governor expands mandates

4 additional cases announced statewide

A person from Sterling has tested positive for COVID-19, a Monday night press release from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management said.

There are now four confirmed cases of the new coronavirus on the Kenai Peninsula, with the first announced March 10 in Seward, and two announced Saturday, one in Soldotna and one in Sterling. In the latest case, it is unknown if the person contracted the disease after traveling or within the community.

The borough’s press release says health officials will continue to monitor the patient’s condition to ensure continued self-isolation at home. Public health officials will also initiate a contact investigation and reach out to any person who may have come into contact with the individual, the borough’s release said.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Two new health mandates and four new confirmed cases of COVID-19, all in Anchorage and travel-related, were announced by Gov. Mike Dunleavy at a Monday press conference, bringing the state’s positive case total to 37. The four new cases announced by the governor do not include the newly confirmed case in Sterling, which was announced by the borough later Monday night.

One of the new health mandates, which goes into effect at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, closes personal care businesses and shuts down all large gatherings. The purpose of the mandate is to limit all close contacts of people and ensure they are farther than 6 feet from each other, the mandate said.

All businesses, congregations or gatherings where individuals are within 6 feet of each other must stop all operations, the mandate said. Local hair salons, day spas and esthetics locations, nail salons, barber shops, tattoo shops, body piercing locations, massage therapy locations and tanning facilities are prohibited from operating under the mandate. Rolfing, reiki, acupuncture, acupressure and similar services are also prohibited under the mandate. The mandate is in effect until “the governor rescinds or modifies the order.”

The other mandate requires that all people arriving in Alaska, whether a resident, worker or visitor, to self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor for illness. The mandate goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25 and will be reevaluated April 21. Arriving residents and workers will go directly from the airport to their home or rented lodging. People entering Alaska will not be allowed to leave their quarantine except for medical reasons. Residents returning home will be asked to work from home, unless they support “critical infrastructure.”

Businesses who need returning Alaskans to come into work will be required to submit a plan or protocol for maintaining “critical infrastructure” to the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development by 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 24. The plan must outline how the employer will avoid the spread of COVID-19 and not “endanger the lives of the communities” where they operate.

Failure to follow the mandate is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment of up to a year, or both, according to the mandate.

While some boroughs and cities in Alaska have adopted “hunker down” orders, the Kenai Peninsula Borough doesn’t have the authority to issue such mandates, Dan Nelson, emergency manager for the borough, said in the Monday night press release from the borough’s emergency management office.

Nelson encouraged residents to limit their movements and practice physical distancing and practice good hygiene.

“Even if you are mildly sick, stay home,” Mayor Charlie Pierce said in the release. “Call your doctor before you go to see your healthcare provider. “Do the right thing, and shelter in place so that we can get through this challenging time together.”

On Sunday, the state announced 10 positive cases, seven from Anchorage, two in the Matanuska Susitna Valley and one from Juneau.

As of Monday night, according to numbers provided by the state and borough, there are 17 cases in Anchorage, seven in Fairbanks, six in Ketchikan, two in the Mat-Su Borough, one in Seward, two in Sterling, one in Soldotna and one in Juneau.

More in News

David Meyer. Photo courtesy of Chantrelle Meyer
Remains of missing kayaker recovered

David Meyer, 62, of Happy Valley was reported missing on June 11.

Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
School board OKs plan to combine Soldotna schools

The vacated Redoubt Elementary facility would house Soldotna Montessori Charter School and River City Academy.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD responds to restored state, federal funding

After a successful vote of the Alaska Legislature reversed Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s… Continue reading

Students stand during a protest against the possible closure of Sterling Elementary School along the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD board starts talking 2026 school closures

This year, the district closed Nikolaevsk School and very nearly closed Sterling Elementary School.

The badge for the Kenai Police Department
Kenai man arrested after allegedly stealing truck and camper

Police were called shortly after 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

Aspen trees offer a spot of red on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at the Hidden Lake Campground in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Sterling, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Mystery Creek Access Road to open Friday

The road is usually closed in the fall as weather causes road conditions to deteriorate.

The joint House and Senate majorities of the Alaska Legislature hold a press availability after the adjournment of the Legislature’s special session in Juneau, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy Gavel Alaska/KTOO)
Alaska Legislature adjourns after overriding governor vetoes

Gov. Mike Dunleavy railed against the Legislature’s adjournment as being opaque.

Alaska Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, left, talks with House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, a Dillingham independent, before Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s State of the State speech on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)
Legislature overrides veto of bill aimed at increased legislative oversight of state oil tax revenue

Lawmakers have said the somewhat obscure policy is significant in the face of missing oil tax information.

The Alaska Legislature’s vote tally shows 45-14 in favor of overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of education funding in the state budget during a joint session in Juneau, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy Gavel Alaska/KTOO)
Legislature narrowly votes to override education funding veto

The increase in funding from Saturday’s veto override will represent a roughly $3 million increase to the KPBSD.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in