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We're making coronavirus coverage available without a subscription as a public service. But we depend on reader support to do this work. Please consider joining others in supporting local journalism in Alaska for just $3.23 a week. As Alaska’s coronavirus cases banked sharply upward in the past week, more people with symptoms of COVID-19 began showing up at emergency rooms in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Several hospitals in the state this week reported a doubling —- although of very low numbers — of patients going to ERs with coronavirus symptoms, some requiring admittance and others sent home under watch. At Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, emergency physicians are now seeing six to eight positive-tested people with COVI...

Moderna's shares soared after the company said its potential vaccine to prevent Covid-19 produced a "robust" immune response in all 45 patients in its early stage human trial, according to newly released data published Tuesday evening in the peer-reviewed New England Journal of Medicine. Moderna's stock rose more than 16% in after-hours trading on the news.  All 45 patients produced neutralizing antibodies, which scientists believe is important for building immunity and provided more promising data that the vaccine may give some protection against the coronavirus. In the trial, each participant received a 25, 100 or 250 microgram dose, with 15 people in each dose group. Participants received two doses of the potential vaccine. After two vaccinations, the vaccine elicited ...

63-year-old man was admitted with symptoms on Monday (Update: Adding St. Charles statement) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Deschutes County health officials have reported the first death of a county resident due to COVID-19, a 63-year-old man who died Tuesday at St. Charles Bend, one day after being admitted with symptoms. The man "had underlying medical conditions and was admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 symptoms yesterday (Monday)," county health officials said in an announcement. His case was identified through local contact tracing, they added. “Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of our community member that passed away today,” said Deschutes County Health Services Director Dr. George Conway.  “Our hearts are heavy with this news, and we ...

>> FIRST TO BREAKING NEWS OUTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM IN AUGUST. THIS AS LONG AS COVID-19 CASES DO NOT SPIKE IN THE STATE. GOVERNOR ROY COOPER ANNOUNCED THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE STATE WILL GO FORWARD WITH PLAN B, WHICH IS IN-PERSON LEARNING, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR DISTRICTS TO CHOOSE A PLAN C, WHICH IS ON-LINE LEARNING. PLAN B INCLUDES MODERATE SOCIAL DISTANCING, FACE COVERINGS FOR EVERY TEACHER, STAFF, AND STUDENT, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN BUILDINGS, DAILY SYMPTOM SCREENINGS, INCLUDING TEMPERATURE CHECKS AND FREQUENT HAND WASHING BREAKS, AND INCREASED CLEANING. OFFICIALS SAY NON-ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES AND OUTSIDE DISTRICT EVENTS WILL BE ELIMINATED. >> WE KNOW THERE WILL ALWAYS B...