Coronavirus

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Borough vaccination rate growing slower than state average

The number of fully vaccinated Kenai Peninsula Borough residents 16 and older has increased by 10.4% since April 5.

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

DHSS reports 138 new positive cases, 3 on peninsula

Nearly 40% of Alaskans across all ages — 38.3% — had received at least one vaccine dose as of Tuesday.

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

State reports 12 new resident COVID deaths

The deaths were recorded after death certificate reviews.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, meets with people near an outdoor COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Hyder, Alaska, on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Dunleavy said Alaska is in a fortunate position with its vaccine supply and he wants to share vaccines with people across the border in Stewart, British Columbia, a community that has close ties to Hyder. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Dunleavy shares vaccine with Canada

Dunleavy said he invited the state’s chief medical officer “on the spur of the moment” to accompany him.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, meets with people near an outdoor COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Hyder, Alaska, on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Dunleavy said Alaska is in a fortunate position with its vaccine supply and he wants to share vaccines with people across the border in Stewart, British Columbia, a community that has close ties to Hyder. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
In this Jan. 27, 2021 file photo, Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing in Juneau, Alaska. Alaska Airlines has banned the Alaska state senator for refusing to follow mask requirements. Last week Reinbold was recorded in Juneau International Airport arguing with Alaska Airlines staff about mask policies. A video posted to social media appears to show airline staff telling Reinbold her mask must cover her nose and mouth. Reinbold has been a vocal opponent to COVID-19 mitigation measures and has repeatedly objected to Alaska Airlines’ mask policy, which was enacted before the federal government’s mandate this year. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

State Sen. Reinbold drives, takes ferry after airline suspension

Reinbold said she had a “new appreciation” for the state ferry system.

In this Jan. 27, 2021 file photo, Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing in Juneau, Alaska. Alaska Airlines has banned the Alaska state senator for refusing to follow mask requirements. Last week Reinbold was recorded in Juneau International Airport arguing with Alaska Airlines staff about mask policies. A video posted to social media appears to show airline staff telling Reinbold her mask must cover her nose and mouth. Reinbold has been a vocal opponent to COVID-19 mitigation measures and has repeatedly objected to Alaska Airlines’ mask policy, which was enacted before the federal government’s mandate this year. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
A sign describing bluff erosion is seen on Kenai North Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Aug. 6, 2020. The bluff stabilization project is one of several capital improvement projects on the City of Kenai’s agenda. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to tackle capital improvement projects

Bridge Access trail, Rec Center upgrades among projects Kenai plans to address this year.

A sign describing bluff erosion is seen on Kenai North Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Aug. 6, 2020. The bluff stabilization project is one of several capital improvement projects on the City of Kenai’s agenda. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The Alaska State Capitol remained closed to the public on Monday, April 26, 2021, but with high rates of vaccinations among staff, lawmakers have relaxed some of the health rules in place since the start of the session in January. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Capitol remained closed to the public on Monday, April 26, 2021, but with high rates of vaccinations among staff, lawmakers have relaxed some of the health rules in place since the start of the session in January. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Encouraging’ vaccine data showing no safety concerns for pregnant women

Pregnant women were excluded from vaccine clinical trials early on.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
David Ross speaks before the Kenai City Council on Saturday, April 24, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai police chief: Crime decreased amid pandemic

The total number of police service calls declined by more than 500.

David Ross speaks before the Kenai City Council on Saturday, April 24, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Peninsula cases rising faster than vaccine rates

18.7% positive case increase from last week as CDC and FDA lift J&J pause

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Almost half of eligible Alaskans have received at least 1 vaccine dose

According to the Department of Health and Social Services, almost half of all eligible Alaskans 16 and older — 48.7%— have received at least one… Continue reading

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna City Council receives a presentation from their auditors on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, via Zoom. (Screenshot)

Seward to stop using Zoom for public meetings

The borough, in contrast, has no plans to phase out Zoom services.

The Soldotna City Council receives a presentation from their auditors on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, via Zoom. (Screenshot)
Billy Adamson (left) and Adam Kiffmeyer scale a communications tower on Thursday, Jan. 7 in Nikiski, Alaska. Homer-based SPITwSPOTS was one of the telecommunications companies awarded CARES money by the Kenai Peninsula Borough as part of an effort to increase public access to the internet. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Cell service to reach Summit Lake area

The assembly allocated between $1.2 and $2 million in CARES Act money to improve public access to the internet through tower site development and infrastructure.

Billy Adamson (left) and Adam Kiffmeyer scale a communications tower on Thursday, Jan. 7 in Nikiski, Alaska. Homer-based SPITwSPOTS was one of the telecommunications companies awarded CARES money by the Kenai Peninsula Borough as part of an effort to increase public access to the internet. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State physician briefs Kenai chamber on COVID, vaccines

More contagious variants likely to spread through communities that don’t reach herd immunity

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

Peninsula ranks 3rd highest for COVID cases

Out of the seven Alaska regions at high-alert level, the peninsula ranks just below Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna region.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
In this undated photo provided by the Tanana Chiefs Conference, shows PJ Simon, chief and chairman of the conference, from Fairbanks, Alaska, displaying a COVID-19 vaccination sticker. Alaska has been one of the leading states in the percentage of its population to be vaccinated against COVID-19. But some of Alaska’s highest vaccination rates have been in some of its most remote, hardest-to-access communities, where the toll of past flu or tuberculosis outbreaks hasn’t been forgotten. (Rachel Saylor/Tanana Chiefs Conference via AP)

Alaska tribal health groups distribute vaccine far and wide

“We live for our children. We want to bring that sense of normalcy back in our lives.”

In this undated photo provided by the Tanana Chiefs Conference, shows PJ Simon, chief and chairman of the conference, from Fairbanks, Alaska, displaying a COVID-19 vaccination sticker. Alaska has been one of the leading states in the percentage of its population to be vaccinated against COVID-19. But some of Alaska’s highest vaccination rates have been in some of its most remote, hardest-to-access communities, where the toll of past flu or tuberculosis outbreaks hasn’t been forgotten. (Rachel Saylor/Tanana Chiefs Conference via AP)
In this June 20, 2019, file photo, the Supreme Court is seen in Washington as a storm rolls in. The Supreme Court seems inclined to say that hundreds of millions of dollars in coronavirus relief money tied up by a court case should benefit Alaska Natives, rather than be spread more broadly among Native American tribes.The justices were hearing arguments April 19, 2021, in a case involving the massive pandemic relief package passed last year and signed into law by then-President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Court seems ready to send virus funds to Alaska Natives

The federal government set aside more than $530 million for the so-called ANCs.

In this June 20, 2019, file photo, the Supreme Court is seen in Washington as a storm rolls in. The Supreme Court seems inclined to say that hundreds of millions of dollars in coronavirus relief money tied up by a court case should benefit Alaska Natives, rather than be spread more broadly among Native American tribes.The justices were hearing arguments April 19, 2021, in a case involving the massive pandemic relief package passed last year and signed into law by then-President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
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)

Alaska hits 40% fully vaccinated

In the Kenai Peninsula Borough, 35.3% of Alaskans 16 and up are fully vaccinated.

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)
Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks during a debate on a supplemental budget on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Courtesy photo | Brian Hild, House Majority Digital Media Specialist)

Bill prohibiting employers from mandating vaccine introduced

Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, introduced legislation Wednesday.

Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks during a debate on a supplemental budget on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Courtesy photo | Brian Hild, House Majority Digital Media Specialist)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy: Tourism relief is on the way

I’m proposing legislation directing $150 million of those funds toward broad, tourism-related relief.

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