The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services alerted the Alaska Marine Highway System that a recent passenger tested positive for COVID-19, according to a release issued late Sunday, July 5.
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services conducted extensive contact tracing and determined that the only other person considered to be a close contact was a traveling companion. No one else aboard the vessel was found to have been in close contact with the passenger who tested positive. The passenger and traveling companion had private sleeping quarters and whenever they were outside of their cabin, wore face coverings and kept six feet from others at all times during their time aboard.
The Alaska Marine Highway System 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 vessels.
John MacKinnon, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities: “We understand the importance of following the COVID-19 mitigation protocols to protect the health and safety of all aboard our vessels. I commend the crew and passengers who were diligent in wearing masks and practicing social distancing — it truly makes a difference.”
It is unknown when and where the passenger became infected, or when the passenger became contagious. The passenger had a negative COVID-19 test before departing on the M/V Kennicott from Bellingham June 27. Testing is a helpful tool for diagnosing COVID-19, but is not perfect. For example, people often will not test positive for several days after they are initially infected. The Department noted in their release that this is why it is important to continue practicing social distancing and wearing a mask even if you have had a recent negative test.
Following Alaska Marine Highway System guidelines, the passenger remained on board until their final destination in Whittier. The passenger and traveling companion then re-boarded the vessel on a new sailing from Whittier to Cordova on July 3. The subsequent positive test was a result of testing available for new arrivals in Cordova. The passenger is identified as a nonresident in the Valdez-Cordova census area in Department of Health and Social Services case counts. Both the passenger and their traveling companion are isolated and not having contact with anyone else.
