Alaska villages to ban, restrict air travel amid coronavirus

Multiple Alaska vills have proposed banning or restricting passenger air travel in response to coronavirus pandemic.Local air carrier Wright Air Service confirmed company received letters from at least eight rural communities anuncing travel restrictions, Anchor Daily News reported Friday.

vills of Venetie, Arctic Vill, Chalkyitsik and Nulato intend to suspend all passenger flights except for medical emergencies, while Fort Yukon and Huslia aim to restrict n-resident travel, airline employee Brett Carlson said.

Grayling, with a population of 190 residents, has also proposed a ban, suspending travel entirely for 30 days, including from or Alaska vills, he said.

Vills across state are also considering similar restrictions, including having travellers arriving by plane to self-isolate, as tribal and city officials work to enforce measures protecting isolated Alaska Native communities from exposure.

For most people, coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. But for elderly and people with existing conditions, it can cause more severe illness. vast majority of those who are infected recover.

“It’s scary,” said Jo Malamute, acting city ministrator in Yukon River vill of Koyukuk, with a population of 95.

Koyukuk tribal members decided earlier this week to stop passenger travel to and from vill by planes and sw machines, she said, ding that mail and cargo flights are expected to continue.

Currently, state officials plan to fly a patient with a new case of COVID-19 to a hub city for treatment, rar than send medics and equipment to vill.

Some residents have argued that remote vills have difficulty getting emergency care or sending older patients to receive care in a timely manner. Regional airline Ravn was t immediately available for questions Friday on number of communities that have indicated plans to restrict travel.