Mayor issues Emergency Orders EO-07 and EO-08

ANCHORAGE — Today, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz issued Emergency Order EO-07 and Emergency Order EO-08. EO-07 replaces and supersedes the Hunker Down Order (EO-03-V2) and EO-01. The order allows many non-critical businesses to operate so long as they are able to adhere to safety criteria. EO-07 takes effect at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, April 27, 2020 and remains in effect until modified.

Emergency Order EO-08 aligns municipal marijuana and alcohol code and regulations with recent changes made by the State of Alaska. The order allows for curbside pickup of alcohol from restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and retail stores, as well as the delivery of sealed beer and wine from restaurants with food orders. In addition, marijuana retail businesses may temporarily change their operations to allow for online and phone orders and exterior window and curbside pickup. EO-08 also takes effect at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, April 27, 2020 and remains in effect until revoked.

“Hunker Down reduced the spread of COVID-19 in Anchorage and gave us time to gain medical knowledge and capacity," said Mayor Ethan Berkowitz. “Our ability to move through “Easing Up" depends on our discipline in maintaining the physical distancing and hygiene that made us successful over the past month."

EO-07 mandates that Anchorage residents:

• limit outings and physical contact with those outside their household
• maintain physical distancing of at least six feet from those outside their household whenever possible
• not gather in groups of more than twenty (20) people, even with physical distancing

In addition, residents are strongly encouraged to continue practicing recommended hygiene, including wearing face coverings or masks when in public.

EO-07 allows for the limited operation of the following business sectors and gatherings, subject to increased hygiene and physical distancing requirements:

• Retail Businesses
• Non-Critical, Non-Public Facing Businesses (Professional Services)
• Non-Critical, Public Facing Businesses (interact with public or have storefronts or in homes)
• Personal Care Services
• Dine-in Food
• Childcare and Day Camps (Operating criteria will be issued shortly.)
• Outdoor Fitness (Operating criteria will be issued shortly.)
• Social, Religious, and Other Gatherings (Operating criteria will be issued shortly.)

EO-07 effectuates the criteria for businesses that the Municipality released on Friday April 24, which include limits on store occupancy, hygiene, and cleaning requirements, and in many cases require businesses and customers to wear face coverings.

Critical businesses that have been open under the Hunker Down order must allow and should strongly encourage employees to wear face-coverings when around the public or in close proximity to other employees, and may require customers to do so as well.

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Media contact: Carolyn Hall, Communications Director, Office of the Mayor, (907)310-0753 carolyn.hall@anchorageak.gov