Daily Sitka Sentinel

Local Firms Share COVID-Era Ideas

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer

Managers of a number of local businesses spoke at the Chamber of Commerce meeting Wednesday on the measures they’ve taken to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic.

CAUTIOUSLY OPEN – Marsha Howard helps Jason Gjertsen at the Work & Rugged Gear Store this morning. Howard has been following state recommendations by encouraging customers to phone in orders and by allowing only three people at a time inside the store, using face masks and using disinfectants on surfaces. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

Since self-isolation and lockdown orders took effect Alaska last month, the Chamber meetings have been held over the Zoom video app.

“These conversations are happening right now about how we engage our economy and get our businesses back open,” said Sitka Chamber Director Rachel Roy. “Our community has done so well at keeping each other safe, and keeping our number at zero.”

Roy invited comment from local business leaders on how they have adapted to evolving circumstances.

Vince Winter, manager of AC Lakeside, said, “We initiated the delivery services and the curbside pickup, and we recently started the online (sales).”

He added that his grocery store just this week is beginning a complete meal program as well.

“We’re just trying to make it easy,” he said. “If you have a family of four, if you call it in, we’ll make some chicken fresh or whatever else you choose. We’ll get it out to you as best we can, because we realize that some people are not used to eating their own food, or need a break.”

Alex Thorne, Business Development Director for the  Sitka Sound Science Center who also directs the Sitka Whalefest, said her organization has shifted to digital sales.

“We have shifted to a virtual platform, and we have been trying to continue to provide educational context,” Thorne said.

Carl Ramseth, manager of Alaska Seaplanes, spoke about the challenges to the air transport business since the start of the coronavirus emergency.

“Our passenger traffic is (experiencing) pretty much the same sort of drop the major airlines are reporting; percentage wise, we’ve lost 90 something percent. But the freight business is stronger than average for this time of year, so it’s keeping a smaller crew busy.”

Cory Baggen, vice president of Samson Tug and Barge, reassured listeners that freight traffic by sea will remain uninterrupted.

“Rest assured that there is a team of people that is working very hard to make sure that there are no freight disruptions, that there are no problems in getting our goods here,” she said. “Things will keep moving.”

Baggen noted that “our biggest concern all over the transportation industry is if we do have a positive test or a case comes in, what do we do about that.”

Sitka Economic Development Commission Director Garry White noted that Sitkans have shown their creativity, but he still has concerns for the future of the local economy.

“People are looking creatively and outside the box on how to conduct business… I’m scared about what’s going to happen to the economy, and hopefully we can figure out ways to minimize that impact,” White said.

In his 16th COVID Emergency Health Mandate, which goes into effect today, Gov. Dunleavy said, “reopening Alaska’s businesses is vital to the state’s economic well-being, and to the ability of Alaskans to provide for their families. At the same time, everyone shares in the obligation to keep Alaska safe and continue to combat the spread of COVID-19. As a result, businesses and employees must, to the extent reasonably feasible, continue to take reasonable care to protect their staff and operations during this pandemic.”

While the specific details differ on how the order applies to different types of businesses, the basic rules of social distancing remain in effect. The mandate also orders regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces.

More details on health mandate 16, or any of the other mandates, are publicly available at gov.alaska.gov.