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Amid word of Alaska’s first in-state death from the new coronavirus Friday, the state issued a series of sweeping new mandates aimed at corralling the spread of the disease.
In effect Saturday at 5 p.m., Alaskans are ordered to shelter at home and close all non-essential businesses, officials said at a media briefing Friday evening. Residents are ordered to stay 6 feet away from anyone who isn’t a household member.
As of 8 a.m. Saturday, the state is also banning all non-essential travel within Alaska, to slow the spread of the virus between communities.
“We just want to let folks know at this point, given where we are and the cases are growing, we want to try to isolate as many Alaskans as possible,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said.
The business closure exempts health care, public government and essential businesses. Closed businesses include those deemed non-critical, such as entertainment venues, gyms and businesses where people come into close contact, such as hair and nail salons. Restaurants are allowed to remain open only for drive-thru, delivery and carry-out service; dine-in service is not allowed.
Travel to support critical infrastructure or for critical personal needs is still allowed, and smaller communities can choose to add stricter measures. The travel ban does not affect the Legislature.
The mandates will be re-evaluated by April 11.
The “tightening” of the mandates came in response to the rising number of cases as the state attempts to build health care capacity, Dunleavy said. The new mandates are part of the state’s attempts at slowing the spread of the new coronavirus and avoiding a sudden surge of ill people, which could overwhelm Alaska’s health care system.
Alaska’s first in-state coronavirus death occurred at Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage on Friday. Meanwhile, the state also announced 16 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus, bringing the total to 85 cases Friday. New cases included nine Anchorage residents, three in Fairbanks, and one each in Girdwood, North Pole, Ketchikan and Juneau.
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