The Berky Hunker - 03/21/20
Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Friday issued an emergency “hunker down” order for residents, effective 10 p.m. Sunday until March 31, to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
Under the order, residents must “stay at home ... as much as possible,” Berkowitz said in a televised briefing Friday evening.
“We’re going to do everything we can in the municipality to flatten the curve," Berkowitz said.
“We’re going to do everything we can in the municipality to flatten the curve," Berkowitz said.
The order is largely focused on limiting person-to-person contact and the closure of businesses deemed not essential, including much of the retail sector and food service.
“This is a call for people of Anchorage to minimize their social contacts — not to be isolated, in that sense — but to minimize the actual physical contacts,” Berkowitz said.
Public health officials have repeatedly said that social distancing, which involves limiting public activity and avoiding close contact with other people, is one of the most effective ways to limit the spread of an outbreak and keep health care facilities from being overwhelmed.
As of Friday evening, Alaska had 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including four confirmed cases in Anchorage, six in Fairbanks, three in Ketchikan and one in Seward. Most were travel-related.
Berkowitz said the order will not affect grocery stores and restaurants currently offering takeout and delivery service. He emphasized that the city was working to ensure continuous power, waste and other critical services for residents.
Critical components of industry, from health care to government and media to plumbers and construction workers, are encouraged to stay in business. The order also specifically names marijuana dispensaries as exempt.
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anc...own-order-to-curb-spread-of-coronavirus/
Under the order, residents must “stay at home ... as much as possible,” Berkowitz said in a televised briefing Friday evening.
“We’re going to do everything we can in the municipality to flatten the curve," Berkowitz said.
“We’re going to do everything we can in the municipality to flatten the curve," Berkowitz said.
The order is largely focused on limiting person-to-person contact and the closure of businesses deemed not essential, including much of the retail sector and food service.
“This is a call for people of Anchorage to minimize their social contacts — not to be isolated, in that sense — but to minimize the actual physical contacts,” Berkowitz said.
Public health officials have repeatedly said that social distancing, which involves limiting public activity and avoiding close contact with other people, is one of the most effective ways to limit the spread of an outbreak and keep health care facilities from being overwhelmed.
As of Friday evening, Alaska had 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including four confirmed cases in Anchorage, six in Fairbanks, three in Ketchikan and one in Seward. Most were travel-related.
Berkowitz said the order will not affect grocery stores and restaurants currently offering takeout and delivery service. He emphasized that the city was working to ensure continuous power, waste and other critical services for residents.
Critical components of industry, from health care to government and media to plumbers and construction workers, are encouraged to stay in business. The order also specifically names marijuana dispensaries as exempt.
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anc...