Anchorage to ease restrictions after drop in coronavirus cases

Anchorage, Alaska, is set to ease coronavirus restrictions following a drop in infections.

Acting Anchorage Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson signed Emergency Order EO-18, called “Easing Up,” which is aimed at easing restrictions on hardest-hit sectors in the economy while keeping certain limits to prevent the virus from returning to high levels.

Bars and restaurants will be allowed to operate indoor and outdoor seating at 50 percent capacity, but businesses must stop serving alcohol after midnight.

Businesses such as salons, gyms and fitness centers, as well as retail businesses, will also be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity.

Gatherings are limited to 10 people when food and beverages are present, and up to 15 people when food and beverages are not present. Outdoor gatherings can have 30 people when food and beverages are present, or up to 50 if not present.

Individuals will have to limit outings and physical contact to those within their households and must wear a face covering in public.

The order takes effect on Feb. 1 and will remain in effect until it’s revoked.

“We know from a recent State of Alaska Epidemiology Report that the measures we’ve all been taking, including wearing masks and limiting gatherings, significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Quinn-Davidson said in a statement. 

“Through EO-18, we continue our balanced approach of implementing measures that keep case counts under control with carefully reopening parts of our economy that have been most constrained,” she said.

Alaska reported 184 new infections on Thursday, according to the Anchorage Daily News, of which 44 were in Anchorage.