Governor announces all nonresidents will have to arrive in Alaska with negative COVID-19 tests

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Tuesday that all visitors to Alaska will soon have to present a negative result on a COVID-19 test performed within 72 hours prior to arrival.

The new policy goes into effect on Aug. 11.

It marks a shift from the current policy, which allows visitors to test before they depart for Alaska or once they arrive in the state, or quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Many visitors have complained it was impossible to get test results back in such a short time before heading to Alaska.

Now the state will only accept negative results from tests taken ahead of time and visitors won’t have a two-week quarantine as an option, Dunleavy said at a briefing Tuesday evening.

Asked about what happens to travelers from out of state who land in Alaska without a negative test, Dunleavy said the state is working through enforcement issues, and those measures will be announced at a later date. Alaskans returning from out of state will still be able to be tested upon arrival at the airport, Dunleavy said.

Read more: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2020/07/28/governor-announces-all-nonresidents-will-have-to-arrive-in-alaska-with-negative-covid-19-tests/
(Anchorage Daily News)