Alaska Will Require COVID-19 Testing For Visitors

By: Ben Schlappig

Published: June 5, 2020

22 comments

It’s not just countries that are developing plans to reopen to tourists, but also states and territories. In particular, here in the US we’ve seen both Alaska and Hawaii introduce significant restrictions on visitors, given the unique challenges those two states face.

Well, it looks like Alaska will once again be welcoming tourists as of tomorrow… if they get tested.

Alaska will require COVID-19 test

For the past few months it has only been possible to travel to Alaska if you self-quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. There will finally be an alternative to that, as reported by the Anchorage Daily News.

As of Saturday, June 6, 2020, visitors can skip a 14-day quarantine by getting a COVID-19 test, either before departing for Alaska, or upon arrival in Alaska:

Travelers can get tested before travel, but need to do so no more than 72 hours before the departure to Alaska
Alternatively there will be options to get tested upon arrival, either if the traveler wasn’t able to get tested before departure, or wasn’t able to do so within 72 hours of departure; in these cases travelers would be asked to self-quarantine until test results come back
Travelers who are tested upon arrival will be given a voucher at the airport for a second test, which they must get in Alaska seven to 14 days after the arrival date in the state
In the event that tests come back positive, travelers will be asked to isolate at their own expense and will not be able to travel until cleared by a public health professional
The cost of airport testing isn’t yet known

As Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy describes this initiative:

“This is the thing that is going to get us through this: If we work together — we’re still going to see an increase in cases — but if we work together, it won’t be that unmanageable spike that a lot of folks have predicted.”

Bottom line

A 14-day self-quarantine more or less kills tourism to just about anywhere, so it’s logical to see Alaska introduce some alternative. Alaska is becoming the first US state to require COVID-19 testing for domestic visitors in order to skip a quarantine.

What’s still not known is how expensive the airport testing will be for those who don’t get tested within 72 hours of their departure.

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John Guest

June 15, 2020, 7:46 am

Alaska better decide real soon if they are going to leave these communist travel restrictions in place. I am about two days away from canceling my entire trip to Alaska this summer. Alaska is actually more restrictive that this article states once you start reading the fine print. If you get tested 5 days prior to your trip, you must still agree to a second test at the airport, and a third test 7-14 days after arrival. You could be waiting days or weeks for test results, during which time you must be in quarantine. They want an address on the form, and cell phone number in Alaska so they can track you. If you get tested less than 72 hours prior to your trip, in theory you don't need to get retested at the airport, but that is only if you can provide proof of negative test results. In practice, you will not have test results back prior to your trip. Even if you could provide negative test results, you still must consent to retesting 7-14 days after arrival in Alaska. In all cases, you must quarantine at your own expense while you wait for test results. Even if you get into Alaska, note the following follow-up restriction. "All travel to or from a community off the road system or marine highway system is prohibited, except as necessary for critical personal needs or critical infrastructure. This mandate is in effect until rescinded."

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Scott Guest

June 8, 2020, 8:39 am

You might want to add the State of Alaska to your article and not just show an Alaska Airlines plane.

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Matt Guest

June 6, 2020, 10:21 pm

BuT oUr FrEeDoMs!?!?!?!?!? Goddamn Americans. Here in Australia domestic travel has been restricted for month, with some states remaining closed to outsiders. But look at how we’ve contained the spread versus America...

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Joe Guest

June 6, 2020, 1:40 am

More theatre around trying to reduce the headline case number at any and all cost. I hope Alaska is saving some testing capacity to do _daily_ testing of all hospital staff and nursing home personnel. These are the true vectors of transmission in the vulnerable population which actually die of this. We really really need to wake up. This is your daily reminder to - looking at the numbers; protect the vulnerable; save the economy.

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23H Guest

June 5, 2020, 10:08 pm

"Its not constitutional." Yes it is. States control quarantine and other public health measures within their own borders. They are not permitted under the constitution to block inter-state travel (or entry into the United States from abroad). However, once you're within the state, you're subject to state's public health laws and regulations, and they absolutely have the power to regulate quarantine or self-isolation... no matter how much of a keyboard warrior you want to be.

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