Prior to state mandate 10.1 taking effect, members of SEARHC set up their tent outside of the Wrangell airport to prepare for incoming travelers on June 5. Under new state guidelines, out of state travelers to Alaska are mandated to either take a COVID-19 test shortly before arriving in Alaska, or submit to one upon landing. Otherwise, the travelers are required to quarantine themselves for two weeks.
Summer Burk, with SEARHC, explained that when a plane lands in Wrangell, travelers will be greeted by members of the Wrangell Police Department. The police will provide them with travel declarations, and out of state visitors will be directed to SEARHC's tent outside the airport. When there, the travelers will be able to provide contact information and take a swab. According to Burk, these swabs will then be sent for testing in Anchorage on the morning flight out of Wrangell every day. Travelers who plan to spend more than a week in Alaska will also be given vouchers for a followup test. Burk said the state of Alaska is paying for all of these tests.
Pictured here (left to right) are Julia Burk, Summer Burk, Jim Holder, Christy Haslip, and Blake Forrester.
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