Pandemic repercussions hit Interior

By LaToya Lucas

Alaska’s statewide closure of service-related businesses, restaurants, gyms, and churches, affects most residents of Fairbanks, the Interior’s largest city, in some way. Service workers have been hit particularly hard. Waitress and servers have not been able to work in restaurants. Beauty salons, barbershops, and nail salons have all been closed indefinitely. Restaurants still operating are open for outside pickup and delivery only. This has left waitress’ and bartenders out of work since the mandatory shut down took effect.

A simple trip to the grocery store now required more thoughtful planning. To help combat the spread of COVID-19, Walmart has switched to one-way entrances and one-way exits. There has been talk of reducing the number of people allowed in the store at a time. Walmart has also slashed operating hours from being open 24-hours daily to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Seniors, ages 60 and over, are allowed in an hour earlier than younger customers. This gives seniors not only opportunity to purchase hard to find items, such as toilet paper and water, but also reduces the risk of infection among that statistically vulnerable population.

While many local gyms physical locations remain closed, virtual classes are booming and that includes cycling. “We rode together for the first time on Saturday morning. After going through this stressful thing to have that familiarity you just felt an emotion,’ said Tammy Tragis-McCook, a member of F & H Fitness Studio in Fairbanks. She found the experience normalizing.

Not only has the pandemic changed business’ plans it has also changed personal plans. “I was unable to have my spouse at our doctor appointments,’ said Ashley Moore, a 27-year old new mother of a two-week-old baby girl.

Not only was she encouraged to have her labor induced, she had to wear a mask throughout her hospital stay. “I was able to take it off for only the labor part of birthing. We also are not allowed to have visitors in the hospital and cannot have family come by for 8 weeks’, said Moore, 27, discussing how her birthing plans were affected by COVID-19.

Changes forced by the virus response are shifting priorities of many. “I’ve started running and learning new art skills to do in my free time,’ said Heather Jensen, a UAF junior, who had to leave her dorm and moved back home. “With school closed, it is definitely hard to stay motivated and still keep the connections with friends I had on campus.’

With so much change, not only personal lives but business as well, a question looms over Interior Alaska: Will this become our new way of life?

LaToya Lucas is a student at the University of Alaska- Fairbanks, majoring in Digital Journalism and minoring in Business. Lucas was born and raised in Florida, in a family of three boys. Her passions include reading, creative writing, and all things sports. Her goal is to become an ESPN sports journalist.