Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Center for Disease Control (CDC) Situation Summary Updated Frequently Ketchikan: Public Meetings Ketchikan: Upcoming Events Ketchikan: Announcements Ketchikan: Classifieds CLASSIFIEDS Publish Your Ad Click Here Historical Ketchikan June Allen Dave Kiffer Louise B. Harrington Ketchikan Weather Ketchikan's Forecast Feb. Daily Records 2020 Ketchikan Jan. 2020 Data Ketchikan Dec. 2019 Data Ketchikan Nov. 2019 Data Ketchikan Oct. 2019 Data Ketchikan Sept 2019 Data Ketchikan Aug. 2019 Data Ketchikan July 2019 Data Ketchikan June 2019 Data Ketchikan May 2019 Data Ketchikan April 2019 Data Ketchikan March 2019 Data Ketchikan Feb. 2019 Data Ketchikan Jan. 2019 Data Nat Weather Service KTN Ketchikan Tides & Currents Sunrise - Sunset Ketchikan Search the News Ketchikan Alaska U.S. Congress 2019-2020: Bills that have passed the House & Senate and become Law U.S. Congress 2019-2020: Bills Introduced (Over 5,000 in the House and over 3,000 in the Senate)

Alaska: Coronavirus and tourism: Places like Alaska without a severe COVID-19 outbreak could still be devastated By KEVIN BERRY & MOUHCINE GUETTABI - Even if the COVID-19 outbreak in Alaska is limited to the single current confirmed case, its economy may still be at the mercy of the pandemic.

That’s because seasonal tourism plays an outsized role in Alaska’s economy, representing as much as 1 in 10 jobs throughout the state and more in the regions surrounding Anchorage and the capital Juneau. Nearly all of the state’s tourists get there on a cruise ship.

As a result of government warnings and general fears, tourism and travel are expected to plunge in the coming weeks and months, particularly on cruise ships, which have begun temporarily suspending operations.

As economists who specialize in how people respond to risks like infectious disease and the regional impacts of economic shocks, we believe Alaska offers a window into just how far-reaching the impacts of the current outbreak can be even if the pandemic’s spread is well managed. It also could help guide the federal government as it considers an economic stimulus package designed to offset COVID-19.

There are many reasons to expect people won’t be doing much traveling for a while, if history is any guide.

During the swine flu outbreak in 2009, a substantial number of travelers canceled trips they had already paid for, forfeiting the cost to avoid the risk of infection.

At the moment, the government’s focus is on slowing the spread of the disease. U.S. public health officials are urging people to avoid large gatherings and quarantine themselves if they think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are in at risk demographics. Travel is viewed as being particularly risky during the outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently warned against long plane trips or cruises as one way to minimize individual risks of being infected.

As a result, Americans are already canceling or rescheduling trips in response to concerns about COVID-19.

Yet, travelers planning a trip to Alaska this summer can easily reschedule for another year, since many airlines are waiving flight change fees. And these airlines and other large companies that suffer losses as a result of the outbreak stand a good chance of receiving a bailout that makes them whole.

But regional economies dependent on seasonal tourism – such as southeast Alaska, where Juneau is located – can’t simply wait for another season or federal aid to recoup their losses. For communities and small businesses heavily reliant on the busy summer months for a significant amount of jobs and business revenue, the damages from an outbreak like COVID-19 could be catastrophic.

Employment in the leisure and hospitality industry in southeast Alaska represents 15.7% of all total non-farm jobs during the busy summer months, when employment is more than double what it is during winter.

Only last year, a regional development organization projected that a record 1.44 million visitors would spend nearly US$800 million while on holiday in the region this summer. And 90% of them were expected to come on cruise ships.

With the pandemic showing no end in sight, the number of visitors coming to Alaska are likely to be be much smaller.

Additionally, many parts of Alaska that are tourism-dependent also rely upon seasonal fisheries. These fisheries have international supply chains and work forces which will likely be interrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Many of their products are marketed overseas, where demand has been hurt by the pandemic.

For example, Alaska’s five salmon species are all harvested by commercial, recreational and subsistence fishermen during brief “runs” during the summer. An outbreak that disrupts supply chains during these runs, or causes tourist fishermen to say home, would be another huge blow to these communities.

In other words, the Alaskan economy illustrates some of the economic costs of what will happen as people minimize their exposure to COVID-19 by “social distancing” and self-isolation. - More...
Friday PM - March 13, 2020

Ketchikan: Borough Mayor Rodney Dial talks about borough issues By LARRY JACKSON - I discussed the Ketchikan Borough Assembly's decision on allowing the food trucks on private property for extended hours with KGB Mayor Rodney Dial.

The assembly also decided to have staff investigate affordable housing issues. Mayor Dial discussed with me the setting aside of borough lands near Ward Lake for a possible park and the Emergency Declaration by Governor Michael Dunleavy. - More...
Friday PM - March 13, 2020

Ketchikan: Covid-19, Ketchikan media round table with Emergency Operations Committee By LARRY JACKSON - The City of Ketchikan Fire Chief Abner Hoage held a press round table this week at firehouse one. The Local Emergency Planning Committee members were in attendance to discuss questions around the covid 19 outbreak. Members of the press emailed questions and the fire chief had different members address the questions according to their area of expertise. - More...
Friday PM - March 13, 2020

Ketchikan: Where do Salmon go when they migrate? By LARRY JACKSON - I talked with Tessa Midicucci, a staff biologist for SSRAA. She is heading out on a international research project to try and discover what is happening with salmon as they migrate through north Pacific. She will be gone for 4 weeks sampling locations in the Gulf of Alaska. We will check in with her as the trip unfolds. - More...
Friday PM - March 13, 2020

Fish Factor: Vegan seafood products gaining footholds in marketplace By LAINE WELCH - Genetically tweaked salmon that grows three times faster than normal fish…fillets grown in labs from fish cells…now plant-based seafoods such as “vegan shrimp,” or “Toona” are gaining footholds in the marketplace - and confusing customers. 

A new study by FoodMinds for the National Fisheries Institute  showed that about 40 percent of consumers believed plant-based imitations contain actual seafood. Up to 60 percent thought the products had similar nutritional content as real fish. 

Still, fake seafood producers are pushing back against more accurate labeling, claiming without any evidence that customers know what they are getting. 

“We have to ensure that the labels are educating people about something as simple as what's in the package. A lot of these plant-based alternative makers have even suggested that they have the ‘first amendment right’ to call their products whatever they want. And that's simply not the case,” said Gavin Gibbons, NFI vice president for communications.

Good Catch Foods, for example, positions itself as a “seafood company” and New Wave foods calls itself “shellfish evolved.” 

“During our consumer research, three of the five vegan seafood products we displayed were less nutritious than real fish. They had less protein and more saturated fat and sodium. Yet, almost 60% of the respondents thought that they all had similar nutritional content between actual fish and the highly processed plant based alternatives. So they're actually being misled in some of these particular labeling scenarios,” Gibbons said.

 “In what society is it not a proper government role to ensure that consumers get the food that a label claims is in the package? The government has a legitimate interest in ensuring accurate labeling of foods. Otherwise, why not call ground meat filet mignon?” John Connelly, NFI president, wrote in a March 2 opinion piece.

There’s nothing wrong with the vegan seafood products, Gibbons said, and they can make an important contribution to a growing world. But the makers don’t even want the term “imitation” seafood included on their packaging. 

“Consumers have a right to know what's in the package and what's more, a package has something called a Statement of Identity on it,” he explained. “A lot of these products have labels that tell you what is not in the package. For instance, it says ‘vegan shrimp.’ Well, it's a vegan product that does not contain shrimp. And that is not how a Statement of Identity works. It has to tell you what is in the product. And those labels currently do not do that.” 

Gibbons said that along with the dairy, beef and poultry industry, NFI is working to get a federal labeling fix. 

“We have seen time and time again where the Food and Drug Administration does not take action on a labeling issue and then it becomes mainstream,” Gibbons said, using “almond milk” as an example. “Obviously, almonds don't produce milk but they’re right next to cow's milk on the shelf and labeled as milk. We want to get ahead of this now and we are talking to the FDA and folks on Capitol Hill to let them know that this is a problem that has to be fixed through an active regulatory effort.”

Ironically, fake seafood makers brutally bash the seafood industry in their promotions as being unsustainable and cruel and urge customers to “leave fish off their plates for good.”  - More....
Friday PM - March 13, 2020

Ketchikan: COVID-19 & Ketchikan Facility Closures and Updates Posted & Edited By MARY KAUFFMAN - Out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to reduce the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, the following decisions have been made by the Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and its member agencies: 

Facility Closures

The Borough Recreation Center will be closed effective 9:00 p.m. today, March 13, for an anticipated duration of at least two-weeks.  More information will be provided during the two-week period. Partial credits will be issued to customers enrolled in classes or activities affected by this closure, questions can be directed via email to parksandrec@kgbak.us or by voicemail at 228-6650.  

The Ted Ferry Civic Center will be closed effective March 14 through March 31, 2020.

The City Library and Museum will be open for regular business, but are canceling any scheduled groups and events held at their facilities effective March 14 through March 31, 2020. 

The Saxman Community Center and Tribal House will be closed effective March 14 through March 31, 2020.  

School District Update

The Ketchikan School District has announced that Spring Break will be extended by one week. The District will provide breakfast and lunch during the week of March 23-27 for all students.  More information will be provided Monday, March 16, 2020. Watch for information on the District website at www.kgbsd.org.

All District international, out-of-state, and in-state travel has been canceled until the end of this month. Additional trips will be evaluated in upcoming weeks. All scheduled public events in school facilities will be canceled beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, through the end of March 2020. 

However, today Alaska Governor Michael Dunleavy mandated public school days between March 16, 2020 and March 30, 2020 will be non-student contact days in which students will not be attending school and all after school activities will be suspended.

Public Gatherings

We recommend that large public gatherings and events be canceled over the next two-week period. For events that cannot be canceled, we encourage online or telephonic participation. We will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as appropriate. - More...
Friday PM - March 13, 2020

Alaska: Governor Issues First COVID-19 Health Mandate; Alaska Legislature announces access to State Capitol limited to lawmakers, staff, and journalists Posted & Edited By MARY KAUFFMAN - Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today issued the State of Alaska’s first COVID-19 Health Mandate following a series of Health Alerts distributed this week.

The mandate suspends and limits general public visitation to the following state institutions until otherwise rescinded by DHSS and the Office of the Governor:

Suspended Visitation

• Department of Corrections (DOC) Facilities
• Division of Juvenile Justice Facilities
• Alaska Military Youth Academy
• Alaska Psychiatric Institute

Limited Visitation

• Alaska Pioneer Homes

Additionally, public school days between March 16, 2020 and March 30, 2020 will be non-student contact days in which students will not be attending school and all after school activities will be suspended.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) announced March 12th Alaska’s first presumptive positive case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The patient is a foreign national who developed a fever and respiratory symptoms shortly after arriving in Anchorage on March 11. DHSS is coordinating closely with Alaska Regional Hospital where this individual was tested; strict infection control protocols were followed. This is a travel-associated case of COVID-19, not a case of community-acquired infection.

“We do have our first case identified of the COVID-19 virus, which is not unusual given what’s been happening elsewhere with this pandemic. This is no surprise as this is something we in Alaska have been preparing for since January. We feel good about the protocols we have in place and will continue to work our protocols. We continue to work with the federal government, the CDC, other health professionals in this country, as well as fellow Governors to see what they’re doing in their states,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. 

Dunleavy said, “Again, there is no reason to panic, no reason to get upset. We expect to have more cases as time goes on and Alaska is as prepared as any other state to take on this issue.”

An individual associated with an Anchorage cargo flight tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). According to the Alaska Department of Transportation, the patient is a foreign national who developed a fever and respiratory symptoms shortly after arriving in Anchorage March 11, 2020. The patient immediately contacted their physician and then went to Alaska Regional Hospital for testing.

Quoting an Alaska Department of Transportation news release, cargo flights to Anchorage strictly adhere to guidelines set out by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Cargo flights are completely separate from any passenger flights at ANC. Cargo crewmembers never come into contact with general passengers and they do not access the main terminal. Cargo crewmembers are cleared through U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at ANC’s North Terminal.

Cargo is not considered a health risk according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods and there have not been any cases of COVID-19 in the United States associated with imported goods.

We understand this news will be concerning to Alaskans, but we have expected Alaska would get the first case of COVID-19 and we have been diligently preparing for this possibility,” said Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink. “Alaska’s health emergency response system has been activated since late January and we have been working with federal, Tribal, state, local and health care partners to ensure we have strong systems in place to limit or prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

The presumptive positive test result was reported by the Alaska State Public Health Laboratory in Anchorage, which has been able to test for COVID-19 since February 27, 2020. The sample is being sent to CDC for final confirmation, which is the current protocol for COVID-19 testing. The DHSS Section of Epidemiology has already begun identifying people who have had close contact with the individual. Those who have been exposed and are considered at risk will undergo self-quarantine for 14 days with public health supervision. The typical incubation period (time from infection to symptom onset) for COVID-19 is 2-14 days.  - More...
Friday - March 13, 2020

Melting glaciers will have mixed effects on Pacific salmon
By ALICE BAILEY
An adult male coho salmon swims in a British Columbia river. Glacier retreat could affect coho across their lifecycle, such as by changing the suitability of spawning habitat when they lay their eggs as well as by changing the temperature and the amount of water that supports the juveniles when they are rearing in freshwaters.
Photo by Jonathan Moore

University of Alaska Fairbanks associate professor Anne Beaudreau, a co-author of the paper, said it’s important to analyze the relationship between salmon and glaciers.

“Glaciers are melting and retreating at really fast rates. Ninety-five percent of Alaska glaciers are retreating, and that’s dramatically changing habitats for salmon,” Beaudreau said. “Glaciers throughout the range of Pacific salmon are expected to lose as much as 80 percent of their ice volume by 2100.”

This is the first study to look at the entire distribution of Pacific salmon and directly connect physical changes from glaciers melting and retreating with the future of the several species.

“As we started to dig into it, we realized that this is a hugely complex subject,” Beaudreau said. “People want to know if glaciers melting will be good or bad for salmon. It’s not so easy to say. There are conditions that will benefit salmon and there are conditions that will make their habitat less hospitable.”

The impacts will vary depending on the phase of glacial retreat, the species of salmon, the specific characteristics of different watersheds and the life stage of the fish.

For example, glaciers in parts of Glacier Bay, Alaska, are in the early stages of retreat on a geological time scale, and many now terminate on land. The edge of the ice is scouring out new river channels, which will open up more salmon habitat. In the second phase of retreat, the river channel becomes more stable and cool glacial water could buffer warmer waters in nonglacial tributaries.

However, the study illustrates how the later stages of glacial retreat could potentially harm salmon as the ice and meltwater disappear. - More...
Friday PM - March 13, 2020

Analysis: The oil shock of 2020 appears to be here – and the pain could be wide and deep By SCOTT L. MONTGOMERY - The world is again undergoing an oil shock.

Prices, already on a downward trend, have collapsed 30% in less than a week, bringing the total fall to nearly 50% since highs in early January. Consumers, of course, can expect gasoline prices to go down, but the story is far more complicated than that.

Having researched energy for decades, I see this as a big deal, not only for the global economy, but for geopolitics, the future of transport and efforts to mitigate climate change, particularly if the world enters into a sustained period of cheap oil.

What happened?

Oil prices have been forced downward due to major influences from both the demand and supply sides.

Demand for crude oil and petroleum fuels has fallen worldwide because of the coronavirus pandemic, nowhere more so than in China. Locking down millions of people closed factories, cut supply chains and reduced transport at home and abroad via trade. This is key, because China is the globe’s largest oil importer and a major driver of global demand. A global downturn in demand from transportation, not least in air travel, has eroded demand further.

On the supply side, an uneasy partnership between OPEC and Russia has turned into a bitter breakup. The resulting war for market share has flooded the world with oil.

OPEC and Russia first got together in 2016 to cut production and raise prices against a river of new oil from shale drilling in the U.S. To a degree, it worked – prices did rise, though in volatile fashion.

But at a meeting on March 6, the Saudis proposed yet another cut to counter muted demand from the coronavirus’ effect on the economy. Russia said it would elevate production instead, and the Saudis responded by saying they would, too. A few days later, the United Arab Emirates said it would also boost output to record levels and accelerate plans to increase capacity.

Russia’s motives seem evident. Suffering under sanctions for its seizure of Crimea, Russia had kept its production relatively muted for years at the bidding of Saudi Arabia, which allowed U.S. shale producers to gain market share at the expense of Russian companies.

There is little doubt, too, that U.S. oil companies are especially vulnerable right now. Many have operated along the edges of profitability and remain deep in debt. With demand falling, an added downward push on prices should bring real pain to the plains of Texas, North Dakota and Ohio. Still, I expect U.S. producers to survive as they have before – by consolidating, finding ways to lower costs, becoming more efficient and innovating. - More...
Friday PM - March 13, 2020

JASE GRAVES: STAGE A MIDLIFE CRISIS INTERVENTION - I turn the “big 5-0” this year, which means I’m at imminent risk of slipping into a midlife crisis.

Some of my friends and fellow AARP invitees are already deep in the throes of “manopause” and have become objects of pity and ridicule – and not just from their wives. I plan to avoid that sad fate, which all too often goes viral on social media, and be prepared when my crisis hits – or bursts from my chest cavity, grows into a hideous alien creature with hair implants, and tries to destroy my dignity and bank account.

My main strategy for defending myself against doing anything that I can’t afford, or for which there is no effective ointment, is to recognize and reject the traps that ensnare many men approaching their “best-if-used-by” date.

First, I am resolved to avoid purchasing any motorized products (or related accessories) from the Harley-Davidson Corporation. These include additions to my wardrobe, like stars-and-stripes bandanas, embroidered vests, or – heaven forbid – leather chaps. Now, I realize that Harley-Davidson is a fine American company deserving of support, but that support should come from men who look more like the dudes from ZZ Top, and less like escapees from a junior high school faculty meeting. Besides, I never really mastered riding my ten-speed Schwinn, so I’m thinking my Softail Fat Boy ship has sailed.

Next, I am determined to refrain from acquiring any permanent or semi-permanent body art. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against folks with tattoos, piercings, brandings, plugs, drains, downspouts, or BeDazzlings. At my age, though, I have to assume that any decorative addition to my epidermis will soon begin a precipitous descent to an unintended area of my body. As the years go by, I’d rather not be tripping over my nipple barbells or trying to explain why I have tattoos of my daughters’ faces between my toes. - More...
Friday PM - March 13, 2020

Political Cartoon: Stocking up on Toilet Paper
By Jeff Koterba ©2020, Omaha World Herald, NE
Distributed to paid subscribers for publication by Cagle Cartoons, Inc.