ANCHORAGE — Today, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz issued Emergency Order EO-02, to safeguard the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Anchorage, and to make that supply available to health care workers. PPE—including gloves, masks, gowns, and face shields—is necessary to keep healthcare workers safe from infection. Medical professionals around the country are experiencing critical supply shortages as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the national demand for PPE and Alaska's distance from suppliers, avoiding PPE shortages in Anchorage will require stretching existing supplies as long as possible.
The order mandates that:
All dentists, veterinarians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists in the Municipality must cancel or postpone all non-urgent or non-emergency procedures, use personal protective equipment only for emergency procedures, and safeguard remaining PPE in their existing stock.
Other businesses in the Municipality, including construction companies, funeral homes, hair and nail salons, janitorial companies, oil field services, power/energy companies, and universities must safeguard personal protective equipment (PPE) in their existing stock, and use PPE only when absolutely necessary to protect their eyes, face, or hands in the performance of an essential function of their job.
Upon an order from the Mayor or Incident Commander, those businesses must make the preserved supplies of PPE available to health care practitioners responding to COVID-19.
“There is an acute shortage of personal protective equipment that is critical to protect the safety of healthcare workers who are called upon to treat Alaskans afflicted with COVID-19. Protecting their safety is critical to maintaining the strongest possible defense and maximizing our ability to safeguard our community. I thank the affected industries for sharing their equipment and for their understanding under these highly challenging times. We are all in this together," said Mayor Berkowitz.
Personal protective equipment includes clothing and equipment worn to minimize biohazards, including latex or nitrile exam gloves, masks, medicals gowns, and face shields. The order does not apply to personal protective equipment that has no transferable use in the health care context such as hard hats, hearing protection, specialty boots, or welding shields.
Workers in all sectors should continue to take necessary safety precautions while working.
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Media contact: Ira Slomski-Pritz, 907-444-5356, ira.slomski-pritz@anchorageak.gov