Hunker DOwn

A fuel ration on the Pribilof Island of St. Paul ended Tuesday after more than a month and a half of limiting fuel for both residents and fishermen.

The Bering Sea community announced the ration in late February after bad weather repeatedly canceled the arrival of a fuel barge. 

The North Pacific Fuel barge finally arrived at the dock on Tuesday, according to City Manager Phil Zavadil. The city had been waiting on its arrival since November of last year. 

St. Paul has implemented a two-week "hunker down" order after officials confirmed the island's first case of COVID-19 Wednesday — more than a year after the pandemic arrived in the state. 

An essential worker tested positive Wednesday in the small community of 371 residents in the Pribilof Islands, according to City Manager Phil Zavadil. There are an additional 300 seasonal workers and contractors on the island as well. 

Unalaska's largest fish processing plant reopened Monday after a COVID-19 outbreak forced it to shut down for almost a month. 

UniSea closed its doors Jan. 5 after a handful of workers tested positive for the virus, following a New Year's gathering in company housing. 

One of the largest seafood processing plants in the world remains closed and locked down after a COVID-19 outbreak grew by 20 employees who tested positive for the virus Friday, according to company officials.

Unalaska's largest seafood processing plant, UniSea, tested 475 employees over the past few days after a number of workers tested positive in early January, said UniSea President Tom Enlow. 

As the city contends with potential widespread exposure to the coronavirus, Unalaska's schools have begun to determine if and how they will provide in-person learning opportunities to students.