The number of COVID-19 infections among out-of-state workers in Alaska rose again on June 1 and 2 two more seafood employees testing positive, bringing the total non-resident cases in the sector to 15.
One employee was identified as working for a firm in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, while another was simply recorded as testing positive in Anchorage, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Seattle-based Trident Seafoods on Monday temporarily closed its processing plant located at Bellingham Cold Storage's (BCS) Squalicum Harbor facility in Bellingham, Washington, north of Seattle, a source with knowledge of the event told IntraFish.
The move was prompted by news Monday that officials at BCS are testing 13 employees for Covid-19. The employees work along a dock area used by American Seafood’s American Dynasty, which on Sunday confirmed 86 crew members aboard the factory trawler, which was offloading Pacific hake and preparing to leave for the opening of Alaska’s “B” pollock season on June 10, tested positive for Covid-19. The boat is now in lockdown at the Port of Seattle.
