The municipality of Anchorage will lift the collection of extramural restrictions in a new COVID-19 emergency order that goes into effect later this week.
The new emergency order will also apply until it is revoked, or until the city’s health department, according to the order, confirms that 70% of Anchorage’s residents have been fully vaccinated. At present, about 36% of the residents of Anchorage 16 and older are fully vaccinated according to the order.
The order, called “Do it for the summer”, emphasizes vaccinations, masking and social distance as a normal normal summer season for residents and tourists.
Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson announces the emergency order one day before the Anchorage meeting will decide whether to extend the city’s emergency proclamation, giving the mayor the power to issue emergency orders. The Assembly must renew the proclamation, otherwise all emergency orders expire after Friday.
Emergency Order 20 replaces the current order, EO-19, and takes effect Friday at 11:59 p.m. The order holds many of the same requirements for indoor gatherings, masking and social distance that currently apply.
• Outdoor meetings no longer have limits. This means outdoor graduation ceremonies, outdoor sporting events have no limit on the number of participants. Masks and social distance requirements remain in place.
• For indoor events, many are the same in this emergency order, with one exception: large ballrooms or conference space can hold seating with up to four times the current limit for indoor events, as long as there is a distance of 6 feet between tables.
• Organized indoor sports will be able to have more spectators. Four spectators per athlete are allowed instead of the current two. (Outdoor competitions have no spectator restriction other than social distance.)
• The city sets a vaccination target of 70% among its eligible residents. Once this is achieved, EO-20 is no longer mandatory.
According to the order, indoor gatherings with food and beverages will be limited to 25 people, while indoor gatherings without food and beverages will be limited to 35 people.
Businesses such as restaurants, bars, theaters and others that serve the public personally need to keep physical distance between groups of customers.
This is an evolving story. Check back for updates.