A positive case of COVID-19 was announced in an out-of-state individual who had recently arrived to work seasonally for salmon processor.
As the world’s largest salmon fishery nears, state officials in Alaska have reported its first case of COVID-19 in Dillingham, Alaska.
The out of state worker was meant to work for Trident Seafoods. The case was discovered on Saturday when several workers quarantining in the same location were tested for COVID-19 at the end of their 14-day quarantine. Before workers can be released from quarantine, they need to meet all requirements outlined in the City of Dillingham
ordinance including testing requirements.
Only one worker in the group tested positive; that person was immediately isolated from the others. Trident Seafoods arranged transportation for the worker to leave Dillingham.
“Although the individual is doing well and does not require hospitalization, Trident determined it would be best to transport the individual out of the community out of an abundance of caution to help protect Bristol Bay communities,” wrote authorities.
Alaskan Public Media reported that’s the ninth case of an out-of-state resident testing positive for the disease in Alaska, and it’s the fourth out-of-state seafood worker.
Strict rules have been implemented ahead of Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishery. At one point, it looked like the USD 300 million run may have been cancelled, but now it’s likely going ahead, Stavis Seafoods’ Vice President David Lancaster told SalmonBusiness last week.
