On Monday night Gov. Mike Dunleavy outlined a cautious plan to reopen some businesses like restaurants, and hair and nail salons. The governor did not give many details on what would need to happen before regulations are relaxed, but said things could start to loosen up as early as next week. City manager Mike Tvenge says local government is working …

On Tuesday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced that restaurants and certain businesses can begin to reopen on Friday, provided they follow certain guidelines. All businesses that reopen will have to stay below 25 percent of their operating capacity. Restaurants will have to use a reservation system to accommodated dine-in customers. Retail stores reopening must provide hand sanitizer at the entrance. And …

In response to state and international health advisories that anyone going out in public wear a mask, Kodiak’s Emergency Operations Center launched a drive for 2000 face masks to supply to the local community. Masks are widely recommended to protect people from transmitting respiratory droplets from the nose and mouth — those are the primary carriers of the coronavirus, according …

GCI announced Thursday that Kodiak’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 is an employee at its retail store. “We are reaching out to our Kodiak customers so that you have the information you need to make the best decisions for your health and safety,”Paul Landes, GCI senior vice president of consumer services, wrote in an email to customers. “The employee was …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Kodiak Island Wednesday afternoon. According to a press release from the Kodiak Area Emergency Services Organization, “The individual is not acutely ill and is staying at home.” “Public health officials have made contact with the individual, and we’ll continue to monitor the condition to …

Kodiak’s hospital and medical clinics have ramped up testing for COVID-19 in the last week, after the first rapid-testing machines arrived on island last Wednesday. About 100 test kits came along with the first set of machines, and since then they’ve scaled up, according to Dr. Curtis Mortenson at Kodiak Community Health Center. “A week ago, we had no ability …

Kodiak Island Borough School District is into its third week of full-time distance learning classes after the state closed K-12 schools through the end of the school year. Kerry Irons, principal at North Star Elementary says that one of the toughest parts of educating children remotely is making sure they still feel connected to a social emotional support network. “That’s …

Kodiak’s jail has changed some of its procedures and added precautionary measures to protect inmates and staff from potentially contracting COVID-19. Following Alaska Department of Corrections guidelines, the jail suspended in-person visits last month. Police Chief Tim Putney said staff are monitoring temperatures for inmates who show symptoms or say they are feeling ill, and they’re spacing people out within …

On today’s edition of The Lowdown, we get an update on how KIBSD is handling distance education for the entire district. Classes are currently on week three of remote learning, after the state moved to close all K-12 schools through the end of the school year. We talk to Kodiak High School principal Dr. Mel LeVan, secondary instructional specialist Katrina …

A new state health mandate announces the use of hotel rooms, dormitories and other buildings to house specific populations who need to quarantine or isolate. KMXT posts the following press release from the Governor’s office as received, with minor edits. Issued: April 13, 2020 By: Governor Mike Dunleavy, Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Dr. Anne Zink, …