New COVID-19 cases related to Alaska Legislature reported

JUNEAU, Alaska — At least four new COVID-19 cases have been reported in recent days surrounding the Alaska Legislature, according to information from a Legislative Affairs Agency official.

Jessica Geary, the agency’s executive director, by email Monday said that of 15 individuals identified as close contacts of a House member who tested positive last week, two had tested positive on Sunday. Additionally, a House staff member tested positive Monday though it wasn’t immediately clear if that case was related to the others, she said.

Last week, House Republicans announced that Rep. Mike Cronk of Tok, one of their caucus members, had testified positive for COVID-19.

Geary, in a prior email to legislators and legislative staff that was shared with reporters on Monday, said a Senate staff member also had tested positive though Geary wrote that it was unrelated to the House matter.

Protocols in place for access to the Capitol require testing every five days, filling out a health questionnaire for daily access and undergoing a temperature check. Capitol access to the public has been restricted.

The Associated Press