2020 tests limits of Arctic adaptation December 31st, 2020 |
1. Arctic struggles with pandemic and its impacts to education, health
Across the Arctic, as well as the state, nation and globe, the dominant story of 2020 was the COVID-19 pandemic. For rural Alaska, however, the pandemic brought back memories of the Spanish flu, which decimated many in Alaska s Native villages, in some cases leaving only a handful of survivors.
While the state braced for impact shortly after spring break, closing schools, restaurants and many service industries and limiting travel between communities, rural Alaska did not see immediate outbreaks, despite fears that prompted many communities to restrict travel and require testing and quarantines for all people arriving via air.
Borough extends emergency declaration
On Dec. 14, the North Slope Borough assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the declaration of emergency in response to COVID-19 through the end of March 2021. The designation allows the borough to allocate funding to meet the needs of the community.
The same day, Mayor Harry Brower Jr. announced an extension of the emergency hunker down order in Utqiaġvik through Dec. 31. The hunker down order originally instated in September to curb the spread of the virus, and extended at least once a month since encourages local people to follow state guidelines to reduce large gatherings, wear masks in public and maintain 6 feet of distance from nonhousehold members. It also asks that nonessential workers remain home.