Up until a month ago, the Kongiganak store only accepted orders over the phone, and store employees would then deliver the orders to people’s homes. This was because of COVID-19 policies the tribe had set. In the first week of March, the tribe updated its policy to allow fully vaccinated people into stores and other businesses, like the electric company.
“At both stores, vaccinated individuals are allowed to go in as long as they re wearing a mask and they’re social distancing,” said Sheila Phillip, Kongiganak Traditional Council secretary. “People that are not fully vaccinated, they can still make phone orders and their orders are delivered to their home.”