JUNEAU – A member of the Alaska House of Representatives has tested positive for COVID-19, and House Speaker Louise Stutes has canceled all Thursday’s meetings at the state house as a precaution.
The identity of the COVID-positive lawmaker was not disclosed when Stutes announced the test result in an email to all lawmakers on Wednesday evening.
Jessica Geary, executive director of the agency that manages the Capitol and the legislative staff, said more information will be available Thursday.
Austin Baird, a spokesman for the House’s 20-strong majority, also promised additional details in the morning.
Senate chairman Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, said the Senate has not canceled the meetings. He said senators are waiting for the results of contact tracking to determine if senators or senate personnel have been exposed, and that staff and lawmakers vulnerable to COVID-19 are encouraged to stay at home.
“We’re not going to be arrogant about this, but we’re not going to overreact,” he said.
The Alaska State Capitol has been closed to the public since March 2020. Only lawmakers, staff, members of the news media, members of the governor’s office and the occasional special guest such as US Senator Lisa Murkowski are allowed in.
Anyone admitted to the Capitol must undergo a COVID-19 test and temperature screening. Regular visitors should be tested twice a week and checked daily for symptoms and fever.
Dunleavy hasn’t been to Juneau lately, and many lawmakers have been traveling out of the capital on weekends for state and personal matters. Six Republican lawmakers and the governor attended a banquet in Palmer on Saturday organized by the Alaska Outdoor Council, but a Senate majority spokesman and board director said the governor’s office does not believe Dunleavy was infected there.