Special coverage: Looking back at the beginning of COVID-19 in Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - In a month and a half, it will be one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and Alaska reported its first case of the virus in the state.

Since then, COVID-19 has affected everyday lives, posed challenges to small businesses, caused most schools to turn to Zoom and more. Now, over 52,000 Alaskans have tested positive for the disease and 260 have died with it.

Evacuation flight lands in Anchorage

201 American passengers evacuating Wuhan, China, arrived in Anchorage before returning home to California on Jan. 28, 2020.

Health officials screened the passengers for any signs of COVID-19, though not much was known about the virus at that point.

Surviving an economic crisis

As the economy has struggled, many Anchorage residents and business owners have as well. However, while recent economic reports indicate a severe downturn in 2020, there remains hope that things could still change in 2021.