Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson announced today that she has signed a new emergency order, EO-17, to slightly ease up restrictions on businesses in Anchorage. Still, gatherings are limited to 6 people.
Anchorage businesses have suffered greatly since Quinn-Davidson shut many of them down in early December.
The order takes effect Jan. 1, 2021. Restaurants and bars may open for 25 percent seating, as the city “carefully eases up restrictions from the modified hunker down status in December while keeping certain limits in place to prevent the virus from reaching the extremely high-risk levels experienced in November.”
Quinn-Davidson points to her previous order, EO-16, as having reduced the number of COVID-19 cases in Anchorage due to the “collective sacrifices required by the modified hunker down emergency order and the individual actions of residents. “
Following each of the mayor’s attacks on businesses, the municipality saw a 35 percent or greater reduction in COVID-19 cases, she said in her order.
“We came perilously close to overwhelming our health care system before the holidays, but thanks to the personal sacrifices Anchorage residents made, we’re ready to transition to EO-17, which gently loosens limitations, while remaining focused on public health measures,” Quinn-Davidson said.
Unfortunately, the policies of the mayor and previous mayor overwhelmed many businesses, which died this year as a result.
Alaskans for Open Meetings has built a map directory of the businesses that closed in Anchorage due to the city’s public policy, what one observer called “civilizational suicide.”
EO-17 allows businesses to expand operations gradually:
- Individuals limit outings and physical contact to those within their household.
- Indoor gatherings remain 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. Criteria for some of these exceptions may be found in Attachment A (day camps), Attachment B (child care), and Attachment C (indoor shopping special events).
- Bars and restaurants may operate indoor seated table service only up to 25% capacity. All alcohol service must stop by 11:00 p.m. each day. Additional requirements for the hospitality industry are provided in Attachment D.
- Organized sports are closed to indoor competition between different teams, with additional requirements included in Attachment E.
- Indoor gyms and fitness centers are limited to 50% capacity, with additional requirements included in Attachment F.
- Salons and personal care service providers are limited to 50% capacity, with additional requirements included in Attachment G.
- Entertainment facilities are limited to 25% capacity, with additional restrictions for food and beverage service included in Attachment H.
- All retail and other public-facing businesses are limited to 50% building occupancy and must maintain physical distancing.
- Employers must require employees to work from home when remote work does not significantly impede business operations.
EO-17, industry-specific attachments, and FAQs may be found on the Emergency Orders page of the Municipality’s COVID-19 website.
