Anchorage acting mayor issues call to 'hunker down' in the municipality

Acting Municipality of Anchorage Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson signed a modified Hunker Down order, Emergency Order EO-16, Wednesday as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise throughout the state, and the municipality in particular. The order will take effect on Tuesday, December 1 at 8 a.m. and will remain in effect until Friday, January 1 at 8 a.m.

Despite the municipality, the state, businesses, and health care providers urging behavior that would slow the spread of the virus, disease transmission is occurring throughout the community with a record-breaking surge of COVID-19 cases, city officials said in a press released issued by the municipality. As a result, the health care system is now under threat, the city said.

“This is not an easy decision. I have been working for weeks with our community partners to find alternatives to issuing this type of emergency order. But I must protect our community, and that requires issuance of this EO,” Quinn-Davidson said. “The current trajectory is not sustainable, however, hope is on the horizon – a vaccine is near – but we need to work together until that day to protect the health and safety of our community.”

City officials said the hope is the emergency order will prevent additional prolonged effects of this pandemic on our community and keep health care front line workers safe so that they can continue to care for all of us.

“We are working with the assembly to approve and allocate 15 million dollars, the last bit of CARES Act money we have left,” Quinn-Davidson said. “We will make these funds available to areas of greatest need, such as additional rental and mortgage assistance, small business support, and to the hospitality and tourism industries.”

EO-16 requires individuals to temporarily return to Hunker Down behaviors, and limits situations that are particularly conducive to spreading COVID-19, such as when people are crowded in confined spaces and not wearing masks. EO-16 directs the following for the month of December:

• Individuals limit outings and physical contact to those within their household.

• Individuals likely to be contagious with COVID-19 quarantine or isolate.

• Indoor gatherings are limited to six people, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people. Specific exceptions are defined in the emergency order, including for drive-in events, classrooms, and political and religious gatherings.

• Bars and restaurants are closed except for take-out, delivery, or outdoor service.

• Indoor gyms are limited to 25% capacity.

• Organized sports are closed to indoor competitions.

• Bingo Halls, theaters, private clubs, and other entertainment facilities are closed.

• Salons and personal care service providers are limited to 25% capacity and cannot provide services that require the removal of a mask.

• All retail and other public-facing businesses are limited to 25% building occupancy and must maintain physical distancing.

• Employers must require employees to work from home when remote work does not significantly impede business operations.