Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson announced a new emergency order on Wednesday to place Anchorage in a “modified hunker down” mode to curb the massive uptick in COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks.
“Today, we find ourselves in a situation that nobody wants to be in. There are no easy answers, but we must act because continuing on this path is the worst of all bad options,” said Quinn-Davidson at a Wednesday press conference announcing the order.
The order, which goes into effect on Dec. 1 at 8 a.m., closes bars and restaurants except for takeout, delivery or outdoor service. Bingo halls, theaters and other entertainment centers are closed. Salons and personal care businesses are limited to 25 percent capacity and are not allowed to perform services that involve removing masks. All other retail and public-facing businesses are limited to 25 percent building occupancy.
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Indoor gatherings are limited to six people and outdoor gatherings to 10 people, with exceptions for drive-in events, classrooms and political or religious gatherings. Indoor gyms are restricted to 25 percent capacity and organized sports are closed to indoor competitions.
In a statement, Quinn-Davidson said the choice to hunker down again was not an easy decision, but the current trajectory of COVID-19 cases is unsustainable for the city’s health care system.
“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,” she said.
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The acting mayor said the administration is working with the Assembly to allocate the remaining $15 million in CARES Act money for rental and mortgage assistance, small business support and other high-need areas.
Quinn-Davidson added, “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.”
The order lasts until Jan. 1, 2021.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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November 26, 2020 at 04:04AM
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Anchorage will enter 'modified hunker down' for December - Alaska Public Media News
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