The rising number of Coronavirus cases prevented the general public from gathering for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education Meeting Monday night. Families used last night’s meeting as an opportunity to express frustration over the lack of in-person learning. There was an organized protest outside Kenai Central High School from people through the Peninsula demanding schools open back up. Similar sentiment was echoed in the Board of Education’s public presentations/comment period.

Last week KPBSD administration was in contact with and sent a clarifying communication to the Department of Health and Social Services. The KPBSD Smart Start 2020 plan was reviewed by the Department of Health and Social Services Medical Team in July. KPBSD received the feedback and suggestions from the DHSS Medical Team to improve the plan. 

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Monday announced one death and 345 new people identified with COVID-19 in the state.

There was a caravan of vehicles driving in support of President Trump in Kenai and Soldotna on Sunday. Up to 500 vehicles took part in a parade of supporters that drove the loop from Kenai to Soldotna on Saturday. 

Department of Health and Social Services over the weekend confirmed two new coronavirus-related deaths on top of nearly 800 new cases of COVID-19 in Alaska in numbers from Saturday and Sunday.

The National Weather Service reports that, based on rising river levels and satellite observations, the Snow Glacier Dammed Lake has begun to release. Water levels on the river just upstream of Kenai Lake have risen 3 feet over the last week. Typically the Snow glacier dammed lake releases every other year. With the last release in 2019, a release this fall is unexpected.

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Legislative Delegation sent a letter to Governor Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday urging him to declare a state economic disaster for the Upper Cook Inlet fisheries and provide for a recovery plan.

The state Department of Health and Social Services 355 new cases of the virus. A total of 67 confirmed coronavirus patients are currently hospitalized in the state, along with another 22 patients who are showing symptoms of coronavirus.

On Wednesday, the KPBSD Medical Advisory Team and school district leadership met, and determined that with the continued high trend of positive COVID-19 case counts, the 7-Day trends, and contact tracing information from public health, a further extension of 100% Remote Learning is merited for staff and student safety.