Alaska Updates COVID-19 Travel Protocols

Image: Glacier Discovery by Helicopter Excursion from Disney Wonder in Skagway, Alaska (Photo via Lauren Bowman)
Image: Glacier Discovery by Helicopter Excursion from Disney Wonder in Skagway, Alaska (Photo via Lauren Bowman)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 10:40 AM ET, Wed February 17, 2021

The state of Alaska has updated its COVID-19 travel protocols, revising what were once mandates into advisories - or, what it called, 'strong recommendations.'

The state's COVID-19 disaster declaration expired on Sunday, Feb. 14, and Alaska's new advisory for international and interstate travel still provides clear guidance for all travelers - including those with proof of COVID-19 vaccination - to do one of the following when entering the state by land, sea or air.

- To mitigate the transmission and control the spread of the virus, travelers should obtain a molecular-based test 72 hours before departure and upload negative results into the Alaska Travel Portal.

- If tested 72 hours before departure and awaiting results, travelers should upload proof of test taken into the Alaska Travel Portal and quarantine at personal expense while waiting.

- If a non-resident arrives without a pre-test, testing is available upon arrival. The traveler should quarantine at personal expense while waiting on results.

- Also recommended is to take a second test between 5 and 14 days after arrival.

Fully vaccinated travelers (those who are at least two weeks post completion of a full course of an approved COVID-19 vaccine) should follow pre-travel testing protocols, but do not need to practice strict social distancing while they await test results.

"We must continue to prioritize the health and safety of both Alaska's visitors and residents," Alaska Travel Industry Association President and CEO Sarah Leonard said in a statement. "We strongly urge travelers to continue to get a COVID-19 test before they come to Alaska to help the state mitigate the transmission and control the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its variants."

Travelers will find all the details of the current health advisory at TravelAlaska.com/safetravels.


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Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

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