April 9, 2020 (Anchorage, AK) – Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today issued the State of Alaska’s COVID-19 Health Mandate 013, alongside updates to Health Mandates 006, 011, and 012.
COVID-19 Health Mandate 013 on K-12 Public and Private Schools supersedes Health Mandate 008, and extends the statewide public and private school closure from May 1, 2020 to the end of the 2019-2020 school year. The mandate states, “student learning will continue, per each school district’s individual plan, to provide distance-delivered educational services to students,” and explains that the State of Alaska Incident Command will reconvene in April “to consider whether the state’s health outlook will safely allow for small groups of students to meet with their teachers in-person for final student conferences before the end of the school year.”
“The decision to close our schools to students was not an easy decision to make. As a former educator and superintendent, I understand the value and positive impact a great education can have in the lives of young Alaskans,” said Governor Dunleavy. “With public health at the forefront of our decision making, it is the necessary step to take at this time. I am encouraged by the successful actions I have seen from our school districts, families, and students across the state. Together, we can enable the bright educational futures of Alaska’s children while we ensure the wellbeing of our communities.”
COVID-19 Health Mandate 006 on Elective Oral Health Procedures is in effect until rescinded.
COVID-19 Health Mandate 011 on Social Distancing is in effect until April 21, 2020.
COVID-19 Health Mandate 012 on Intrastate Travel, limiting travel between communities, is in effect until April 21, 2020.
The Governor’s COVID-19 Health Mandates can be found here.
For the latest information on Alaska’s response to COVID-19, please visit http://coronavirus.alaska.gov.
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Media Contact: Jeff Turner, jeff.turner@alaska.gov (907) 310-4961
