Governor to announce health mandates reopening segments of economy

ANCHORAGE — Gov. Mike Dunleavy is set to address the press at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday with Alaska's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink and Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum to announce new health mandates aimed at reopening certain segments of the economy.

Alaska's total number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 stands at 329, with eight new cases on Tuesday. While four more people in the Mat-Su tested positive for coronavirus over the weekend, no additional cases have been added to the DHSS data hub on Tuesday. The Mat-Su currently has 19 cases, nine of which are in Palmer and 10 of which are in Wasilla. Only four of the 19 cases have been attributed to travel, with two each.

No more Alaskans have died or been hospitalized as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak in Alaska. A total of 12,159 Alaskans have been tested and only 2.7 of them have tested positive.

Dunleavy said on Monday that he would announce his plan to begin reopening certain segments of the economy this week, although he has cautioned that his administration will keep a close eye and monitor possible clusters of cases in the segments of the economy being opened. While health care practicioners resumed their business operations in a modified state on Monday, Dunleavy has hinted that retail, restaurants, barbers and hairdressers may be reopened soon.