Coronavirus

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Central Peninsula Hospital Pharmacy Technician Jessica Hulet rolls a cart carrying doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine into Central Peninsula Hospital on Dec. 16 in Soldotna.
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Central Peninsula Hospital Pharmacy Technician Jessica Hulet rolls a cart carrying doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine into Central Peninsula Hospital on Dec. 16 in Soldotna.
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Variants detected in Alaska as COVID-19 cases increase

The new case count includes 15 on the Kenai Peninsula.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Soldotna assistant football coach Eric Pomerleau checks the temperature of sophomore Joseph Whittom before summer workouts Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna assistant football coach Eric Pomerleau checks the temperature of sophomore Joseph Whittom before summer workouts Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Tuesday in Kenai. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy: Pandemic in ‘rearview’

Alaska remains in at high-risk level, according to the state

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Tuesday in Kenai. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Alaska surpasses 64,000 COVID-19 cases

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is also considered to be high risk, with 11.39 cases per 100,000 people.

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)

200 vaccine appointments available

More than 200 COVID-19 vaccination appointments were available across multiple central peninsula clinics as of Monday at 6 p.m. according to PrepMod, the online portal… 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)
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD opens enrollment survey

Uncertainty surrounding fall 2021 enrollment numbers has created challenges in the budget process.

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Avalanche.org shows a moderate avalanche risk for Turnagain Pass. (Screenshot)

Troopers warn of heightened avalanche danger

Data from the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center showed a moderate risk of avalanches in Turnagain Pass on Friday.

Avalanche.org shows a moderate avalanche risk for Turnagain Pass. (Screenshot)
A sticker given out at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, is seen on March 13, 2021. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula lagging in percentage vaccinated

The peninsula generally ranks in the bottom third of all Alaskan geographies, but higher than geographies of similar population sizes.

A sticker given out at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, is seen on March 13, 2021. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Public health to offer vaccines on demand starting Monday

People who are homebound or groups of at least three people can request a COVID-19 vaccine administrator come to them.

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)
Department of Health and Social Services data shows that Alaska’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is increasing. (Screenshot)

Statewide positivity rate increasing

As of Friday, the statewide positivity rate was about 3%.

Department of Health and Social Services data shows that Alaska’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is increasing. (Screenshot)
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)

State to receive 160,000 pairs of vaccine for April

State health officials announced during a press conference on Thursday that the state will receive at least 160,010 pairs of vaccine for the month of… 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)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

12 new peninsula cases, 232 statewide

The borough is considered to be at intermediate risk level.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Birthed by circumstance’: SoHi takes on COVID-19 in spring play

Soldotna High School students will share their COVID-19 experiences beginning on April 8 during a three-day in-person performance of “Pandemic: A Retrospective.” Director Sara Erfurth,… Continue reading

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meet on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough has over $1 million in leftover CARES money

Nearly half of the leftover funds come from CAR13, the project aimed at retrofitting borough facilities.

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meet on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Tracy Silta administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to Melissa Linton during a vaccine clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Feb. 26.

‘Get the vaccine’

Amid growing concern of long-term COVID symptoms, public health officials urge vigilance

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Tracy Silta administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to Melissa Linton during a vaccine clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Feb. 26.
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)

Vaccine clinic appointments still available on peninsula

A map of vaccine providers can be found on DHSS’ COVID-19 vaccine website at covidvax.alaska.gov.

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)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Peninsula reports 22 new COVID-19 cases over weekend

On Tuesday, the Kenai Peninsula Borough had an average daily 14-day case rate of 6.18 cases per 100,000 people.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Julie Denison, member of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Incident Management Team, and Beth Wilson, pharmacy technician at Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, sign in Kenai Peninsula resident Lee Sparlin for her COVID-19 vaccine appointment at the Soldotna Prep School in Soldotna, Alaska on Jan. 23, 2021. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, cities, to expand vaccine efforts with state grant

The state has about $37.5 million available to be distributed to borough and city governments.

Julie Denison, member of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Incident Management Team, and Beth Wilson, pharmacy technician at Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, sign in Kenai Peninsula resident Lee Sparlin for her COVID-19 vaccine appointment at the Soldotna Prep School in Soldotna, Alaska on Jan. 23, 2021. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

1 in 4 eligible Alaskans fully vaccinated

Nearly 40% — 39.7% — of Alaskans 16 and older had received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine as of Friday.

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)