Alaska has been relatively spared by this virus and we at Emerald Air Service are able to operate our trips without government restrictions. It is our responsibility to judge how our specific business can best mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Emerald Air Service is implementing the following precautionary measures this season to protect the health of our team, guests, and community while enjoying Katmai and its amazing bears together.
COVID-19 MITIGATION PLAN
SANITATION & HYGIENE
We ask for guests to (1) wash/sanitize their hands before handling any EAS equipment and (2) to wear clean, freshly laundered socks before trying on any of our hip boots.
Between each use, all EAS equipment will be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with CDC guidelines. Hand sanitizer will be available to guests in the field, the dock office, and the aircraft. There will be frequent touch-point sanitization throughout the EAS facility.
HEALTH SCREENING
Health screening for guests: at check-in, guests’ temperatures will be taken. If they have temperatures of 100.3°F or greater, they will not be able to go on our trip. They will also need to sign a document affirming that (1) to their knowledge, they did not come into contact with COVID-19 in the past 14 days; (2) they have not experienced symptoms in the last 72 hours; and (3) they have abided by Health Mandate 10.1 for as long as it is in effect.
Health screening for staff: EAS staff will have pre-shift health screenings and will maintain a staff-screening log. Should an EAS staff member exhibit symptoms or knowingly come into contact with COVID-19, EAS will follow our Response and Recovery Plan, made in accordance with CDC guidance.
SOCIAL DISTANCING & VISITOR’S LOG
Whenever possible, social distance of at least six feet should be maintained between non-household members. There will be times when this is not possible, both on the plane and in the field. The weight and balance of an aircraft as well as the profile of a group when in the field are primary safety concerns. An Emerald Air Service pilot has authority in seating guests according to his judgement for the weight and balance of the aircraft. An Emerald Air Service guide has authority to have guests closer to each other than six feet according to his judgement in the field.
Because there will be times when maintaining six feet of separation between non-household members is not possible, all guests of Emerald Air Service must bring and wear their own cloth face coverings. Emerald Air Service staff will wear face coverings.
Visitor’s log: the Emerald Air Service dock office is open to the public and walk-ins are welcome! While it is no longer mandated, we ask visitors to leave their names and a contact method in a visitor log.
IN SUMMARY
Guests will (1) bring their own mask and (2) when they check-in for their trip in the morning, they will be health screened in addition to normal check-in procedures.
Emerald Air Service will (1) have staff wear masks when social distancing is not possible; (2) have pre-shift health screening for all staff; (3) clean/sanitize the equipment and facility with enhanced standards as recommended by the CDC.
We will socially distance when with members of different households whenever possible while prioritizing primary safety concerns on our trip. As always, if it is helping each other across a creek or taking these extra pains to mitigate COVID-19, we will all do our best to take care of each other while we enjoy this little corner of Alaska together.
A NOTE ABOUT BROOKS FALLS
The Parks Service plans to open the Brooks Falls area for visitors by July 1st. While they have not disclosed plans for how they will operate and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we believe it is likely that they will lessen the number of people allowed on the viewing platform at one time and may lessen the time of an individual’s rotation on the platform. It is very likely that it will be a slightly different trip from what we all expected when you made your booking for the Brooks Fall Self-Guided Trip. That being the case, we would be happy to talk about other options for your trip. Please contact our office with any concerns or questions.
