Full Notification

This evening the City Council passed Emergency Ordinance 20-2020-113 prohibiting non-essential travel to Adak, requiring submission of public health protection plans annd requring wearing face masks inside business establishments.  This ordianance is effective immediately and valid for 60 days unless renewed by the City Council.

For persons travelling to Adak, all travellers must submit an Essential Travel Application (available at https://adak-ak.us/covid19).  There are no execptions to the requirement for submitting an application.  They will be processed during normal business hours.  For passengers travelling on Alaska Airlines Flight 164 tomorrow, any applications must be received by 11:00 am HADT for review.  There is no guarantee of approval and plans should be made accordingly.

Travellers should expect a response within 48 hours (2 business days).  Depending on the reasons for travel, applicants should be prepared to immediately submit additonal information if required. For faster processing applications should be emailed to [email protected].  Fax is an option at 907-592-4262.

The following are recognized as essential travellers and these exemptions shall be narrowly construed to protect Adak residents from the COVID-19 pandemic.:

• Emergency first responders;
• Law enforcement acting within their official duties;
• Office of Children’s Services personnel responding to reports of abuse and neglect;
• Essential Government Services Personnel needed to ensure the continuing operations of government agencies to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
• Persons engaged in subsistence fishing and the commercial fishing industry including fisherman, processors and transporters of fish and those providing contract services to fishermen, processors and transporters related to maintenance and operation of commercial fishing vessels and processing facilities.
• Persons employed in the following categories identified in the list of Alaska Essential Services and Critical Workforce Infrastructure Order as amended April 10, 2020:
  1. Healthcare Operations and Public Health
  2. Technology/Communications
  3. Utility Operations and Maintenance (whether public or private).
  4. Air Transportation/Logistics
  5. Plumbers, electricians, mechanics and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences, transportation, and commercial fishing infrastructure.
  6. Supply of fuel (including heating oil, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, propane and gasoline).

Employees travelling on behalf of a business must ensure it's entity has received State approval and City approval of its plan.  Plans must be submitted in PDF form to [email protected].  Plans will not be shared with the public but may be shared with the State for comparison, if needed.  In reviewing plans the following must be addressed:

• How they intend to quarantine personnel who develop a fever, cough or shortness of breath (collectively “Symptoms”) while in Adak;
• How they intend to provide medical evacuation;
• Agreeing to screen for symptoms a minimum of 48 hours prior to travel to Adak and agreeing to prohibit symptomatic individuals from traveling to Adak;
• Agreeing to submit to health screening in Adak, if requested;
• Agreeing that all personnel will self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival in Adak, except when engaged in their essential roles;
• Agreeing that all personnel be prohibited from entering residences in Adak that are not their own lodgings.

All individuals will furthermore be required to wear face coverings when entering businesses deemed essential and open to provide additional protection to employees and other customers.  Section 6 of the ordinance details the requirement and encourages cloth face masks for individuals.

In addition no person may sell transinent lodging to an individual who has not been qualified as an essential traveller.  Lodging operators may require proff of an approved Travel Application.

Failure to abide by the provisions of the ordiance commit a minor offense punishable by a fine of $500.  Furthermore they may be reported to the State of Alaska for action under active Health Mandates.