(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - Thursday afternoon, recent passengers on the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) alerted AMHS that they had tested positive for COVID-19. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) believes that these passengers were likely infectious while on the vessel. AMHS is notifying the public out of an abundance of caution.

The passengers boarded M/V Matanuska in Kake on the morning of August 10, passed through Sitka around 11 a.m. the same day, and arrived in Juneau at 11 p.m.

The Matanuska arrived in Bellingham, Washington Friday morning, and the crew will receive testing before its northbound departure. The crew must be tested and are required to receive negative results before the ship resumes service.

The M/V Matanuska's sailings are canceled through August 20. The Alaska Department of Transportation anticipates that the Matanuska will pick up the schedule northbound from Bellingham at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21.

This is an ongoing epidemiological investigation, but at this time DHSS has not identified any close contacts among other passengers or crew. AMHS requires all passengers and crew to follow protocols to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Protocols include testing before departure on lengthy sailings, mandatory face coverings, social distancing, limiting the number of passengers permitted on the vessels, and frequent and thorough cleaning of the AMHS ships. These protocols are detailed here.

All passengers are being notified and rebooked or refunded as necessary. The new sailing schedule is available at www.FerryAlaska.com  or by contacting your local terminal by dialing 1-907-465-3941 or toll-free at 1-800-642-0066.

Service notices may be found at dot.alaska.gov/amhs/service_notices.shtml.

Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Transportation
www.dot.alaska.gov

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