COVID-19 Health Mandates
Office of Governor Mike Dunleavy
Health mandates issued by Governor Mike Dunleavy, DHSS Commissioner Adam Crum, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink.
More information on COVID-19 from Governor Dunleavy and the State of Alaska
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Health Mandate 014: Non-Congregate Sheltering Order
Issued: April 13, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
To prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its fourteenth health mandate based on its authority under the Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020.
This mandate is issued to protect the public health of Alaskans and mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The goal is to flatten the curve and disrupt the spread of the virus.
Health Mandate 014 – Non-Congregate Sheltering Order
The State of Alaska is prepared to implement a temporary quarantine and isolation program utilizing non-congregate shelter solutions including hotels, college and university dormitories, and properly modified non-traditional structures to house three specific populations:
- First responders and healthcare workers who need to quarantine safely without exposing their families.
- Homeless families, with at least one member who tested positive for COVID-19, who live in congregate shelters and will require isolation.
- Homeless individuals who require quarantine or isolation.
As of April 7, 2020, there were 277 confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19 in the state. Chief Medical Officer for the State of Alaska has reviewed the data regarding actual COVID-19 cases and reported exposures among vulnerable populations.
Therefore, in order to protect public health and to ensure public safety, as well as to lessen or avert the threat of a healthcare catastrophe, the implementation of non-congregate shelter quarantine and isolation solutions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable populations must be put in place.
This mandate will remain in effect until rescinded.
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 014
Health Mandate 013: K-12 Public and Private Schools
Issued: April 9, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
To prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its thirteenth health mandate based on its authority under the Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020.
This mandate is issued to protect the public health of Alaskans and mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The goal is to flatten the curve and disrupt the spread of the virus.
Health Mandate 013 – K-12 Public and Private Schools
The statewide school closure of all K-12 public and private schools is being extended from May 1, 2020 to the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Despite the need to extend school building closures, student learning will continue, per each school district’s individual plan, to provide distance-delivered educational services to students.
It is recognized that this difficult decision ends the school year with students physically separated from their teachers. Incident Command will reconvene later this month 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. This option, if allowed, will be dependent upon the coordination of each school district.
As school districts contemplate how to properly celebrate this year’s graduates, COVID-19 Health Mandate 011 – Social Distancing is still in effect, which prohibits gathering for events, such as graduation.
This Mandate supersedes Health Mandate 008.
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 013
Issued: March 27, 2020
Updated: April 9, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
Attachment A Alaska’s Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure: https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/041320202-COVID-19-Health-Mandate-010-Attachment-A.pdf
Attachment B Alaska Small Community Emergency Travel Order: https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/04132020-COVID-MANDATE-012-Alaska-Small-Community-Emergency-Travel-Order.pdf
***This mandate is in effect until April 21, 2020***
To prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its twelfth health mandate based on its authority under the Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020.
Given the increasing concern for new cases of COVID-19 being transmitted via community spread within the state, Governor Dunleavy and the State of Alaska are issuing the following mandate to go into effect March 28, 2020 at 8:00 am and will be reevaluated by April 11, 2020.
This mandate is issued to protect the public health of Alaskans. The Governor looks to establish consistent mandates across the State in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The goal is to flatten the curve and disrupt the spread of the virus.
The purpose of this mandate is to control the movement of individuals within Alaska in order to prevent, slow, and otherwise disrupt the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
The State of Alaska and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) acknowledge the importance of minimizing intrastate travel to avoid introducing new COVID-19 cases into Alaska communities and slow the spread of the virus in state. It is imperative that Alaskans heed these guidelines.
Critical infrastructure is vital to keeping Alaska safe, and as a result businesses and employees of critical infrastructure industries must, to the extent reasonably feasible, take reasonable care to protect their staff and operations during this pandemic. This may include coordinating or consolidating activities among industries if necessary to help protect your employees and the public, and to avoid the spread of this disease. If your business is included in “Alaska’s Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure” (formerly Attachment A), you must submit a travel plan or protocol for maintaining critical infrastructure to akcovidplans@ak-prepared.com. The plan should outline how you will avoid the spread of COVID-19 and not endanger the lives of the communities in which you operate, of others who serve as a part of that infrastructure, or the ability of that critical infrastructure to function. If you have already submitted a plan pursuant to Health Mandate 10.1 related to interstate travel, you do not need to submit another plan.
Critical infrastructure includes those items listed in “Alaska’s Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure” (formerly Attachment A) https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/041320202-COVID-19-Health-Mandate-010-Attachment-A.pdf
Health Mandate 012 – Intrastate Travel – Limiting travel between communities to critical infrastructure or critical personal needs.
Effective 8:00 am March 28, 2020
All in-state travel between communities, whether resident, worker, or visitor, is prohibited unless travel is to support critical infrastructure, or for critical personal needs. Certain Small Alaskan communities may implement further travel restriction pursuant to “Alaska Small Community Emergency Travel Order – Attachment B.”
Personal travel is prohibited except as necessary to meet critical personal needs or work in critical infrastructure jobs. Critical personal needs include buying, selling, or delivering groceries and home goods; obtaining fuel for vehicles or residential needs; transporting family members for out-of-home care, essential health needs, or for purposes of child custody exchanges; receiving essential health care; providing essential health care to a family member; obtaining other important goods; and engaging in subsistence activities. Travelers are reminded to follow social distancing measures, including, to the extent reasonably feasible, keeping six feet away from others, avoiding crowded places, and limiting public gatherings to less than ten people. Read the “Mandate 11 and 12 FAQ’s” for more details.
No one traveling to or from any community for critical reasons or critical personal travel may be subject to any automatic quarantine or isolation on arrival except as allowed under Alaska Statutes or Health Mandates.
Air carriers and other travel-related businesses have no duty to verify that intrastate travelers meet the criteria for permissible travel under this heath mandate. Air carriers shall inquire if travelers are permitted to travel under this mandate and shall rely upon a traveler’s assurance that they are eligible to travel.
***This Mandate supersedes any local government or tribal mandate, directive, or order restricting intrastate travel ***
***This mandate is in effect until April 21, 2020***
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 012
CLICK HERE: Alaska Small Community Emergency Travel Order – Attachment B
Health Mandate 011: Social Distancing – Updated 04/09/2020
Issued: March 27, 2020
Updated: April 9, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
***This mandate is in effect until April 21, 2020***
To prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its eleventh health mandate based on its authority under the Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020.
Given the increasing concern for new cases of COVID-19 being transmitted via community spread within the state, Governor Dunleavy and the State of Alaska are issuing the following mandate to go into effect March 28, 2020 at 5:00 pm and will be reevaluated by April 21, 2020.
This mandate is issued to protect the public health of Alaskans. The Governor looks to establish consistent mandates across the State in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The goal is to flatten the curve and disrupt the spread of the virus.
The purpose of this mandate is to restrict the movement of individuals within the State of Alaska in order to prevent, slow, and otherwise disrupt the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
The State of Alaska and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) acknowledge the importance of social distancing, while maintaining essential healthcare services, public government services, and other essential business activities, to prevent, slow, and otherwise disrupt the spread of COVID-19 in Alaska. It is imperative that Alaskans heed these guidelines.
Health Mandate 011 – Social Distancing
Effective 5:00 pm March 28, 2020:
All persons in Alaska, except for those engaged in essential health care services, public government services, and essential business activities, are mandated to remain at their place of residence and practice social distancing. For the purpose of this mandate, social distancing is defined as maintaining a distance of six feet or greater from any individuals with whom you do not currently reside. Read the “Mandate 11 & 12 FAQ’s” for more details, which can be found here: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/default.aspx
Critical infrastructure includes those items listed in “Alaska’s Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure” (formerly Attachment A) https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/03232020-COVID-19-Health-Mandate-010-Attachment-A.pdf
- The Governor orders individuals to abide by the following:
- Work from home as much as possible (see Alaska Essential Services and Critical Workforce Infrastructure Order).
- Immediately isolate any family member who is ill. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html#precautions
- Outdoor activity (e.g., walking, hiking, bicycling, running, fishing or hunting) is permitted when a distance of six or more feet can be maintained between individuals not in the same household.
- Any individual who exhibits symptoms of illness must not leave their home, including to work, except as necessary to seek or receive medical care.
- All individuals shall cease participation in public or private gatherings that include non-household members, regardless of the number of people involved. This includes, but is not limited to, weddings, faith gatherings, graduations, and funeral events.
- Individuals experiencing homelessness are exempt from this mandate but are urged to obtain shelter.
- The Governor orders the closure of non-essential businesses:
- All businesses within Alaska, except those listed in Alaska Essential Services and Critical Workforce Infrastructure Order, are required to cease all activities at facilities located within the state except Minimum Basic Operations, as defined in Section II(c). For clarity, businesses may also continue operations consisting exclusively of employees or contractors performing activities at their own residences (i.e., working from home).
- For purposes of this Mandate, covered businesses include any for-profit, non-profit, or educational entities, regardless of the nature of the service, the function they perform, or corporate or entity structure
- “Minimum Basic Operations” include the following, provided that employees comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined in this Section, to the extent possible, while carrying out such operations:
- The minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’s inventory, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions.
- The minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences.
- The Governor orders employers to abide by the following:
- Businesses providing essential services and critical infrastructure will, to the extent reasonably feasible, take reasonable precautions to ensure the health of their service sector and employees.
- Public-facing businesses providing essential services and critical infrastructure will proactively promote social distancing between employees and others, including, but not limited to, expanding delivery options, drive-through services, limiting the number of individuals in a building, clearly spacing lines to keep individuals six feet apart, or making appointment times to minimize interactions between members of the public.
- Employers will evaluate which of their employees can feasibly work remotely from home and to the extent reasonable, take steps to enable employees to work from home.
A violation of a state COVID-19 Mandate may subject a business or organization to an order to cease operations and/or a civil fine of up to $1,000 per violation.
In addition to the potential civil fines noted above, a person or organization that fails to follow the state COVID-19 Mandates designed to protect the public health from this dangerous virus and its impact may, under certain circumstances, also be criminally prosecuted for Reckless Endangerment pursuant to Alaska Statute 11.41.250. Reckless endangerment is defined as follows:
(a) A person commits the crime of reckless endangerment if the person recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person.
(b) Reckless endangerment is a class A misdemeanor.
Pursuant to Alaska Statute 12.55.135, a defendant convicted of a class A misdemeanor may be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of not more than one year.
Additionally, under Alaska Statute 12.55.035, a person may be fined up to $25,000 for a class A misdemeanor, and a business organization may be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding the greatest of $2,500,000 for a misdemeanor offense that results in death, or $500,000 for a class A misdemeanor offense that does not result in death.
This mandate supersedes any local government or tribal mandate, directive, or order.
***This mandate is in effect until April 21, 2020***
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 011
Health Mandate 010: International and Interstate Travel – Order for Self-Quarantine
Issued: March 23, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
***CLICK HERE FOR TRAVELER DECLARATION FORM***
To prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its tenth health mandate based on its authority under the Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020.
Given the increasing concern for new cases of COVID-19 around Alaska, Governor Dunleavy and the State of Alaska are issuing the following mandate to go into effect March 25, 2020 at 12:01AM., and will be reevaluated by April 21, 2020.
This mandate is issued to protect the public health of Alaskans. The Governor looks to establish consistent mandates across the State in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The goal is to flatten the curve and prevent the spread of the virus.
The purpose of this mandate to control the ingress to Alaska from outside localities in order to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Health Mandate 10.1 – International and Interstate Travel – Order for Self-Quarantine
Effective 12:01 am March 25, 2020:
All people arriving in Alaska, whether resident, worker or visitor, are required to self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor for illness. Arriving residents and workers in self-quarantine, should work from home, unless you support critical infrastructure (see Attachment A).
Critical infrastructure is vital to keeping Alaska safe, and as a result businesses and employees of critical infrastructure industries must take special care to protect their staff and operations during this pandemic. If your business is included in Attachment A, and your workers must travel to enter Alaska, you must submit a plan or protocol for maintaining critical infrastructure to the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development by 3:00 pm March 24, outlining how you will avoid the spread of COVID-19 and not endanger the lives of the communities in which you operate, of others who serve as a part of that infrastructure or the ability of that critical infrastructure to function.
Pursuant to the Governor’s declaration, the State of Alaska hereby orders the following. Upon arrival in any community in Alaska from another state or nation, you must:
- Proceed directly from the airport to your designated quarantine location, which is the location identified and affirmed by you on the mandatory State of Alaska Travel Declaration Form.
- If you are a resident, your designated quarantine location is your residence.
- If you are a visitor or worker, your designated quarantine location is your hotel room or rented lodging.
- Remain in your designated quarantine location for a period of 14 days, or the duration of your stay in Alaska, whichever is shorter.
- You may leave your designated quarantine location only for medical emergencies or to seek medical care.
- Do not visit any public spaces, including, but not limited to: pools, meetings rooms, fitness centers or restaurants.
- Do not allow visitors in or out of your designated quarantine location other than a physician, healthcare provider, or individual authorized to enter the designated quarantine location by Unified Command.
- Comply with all rules or protocols related to your quarantine as set forth by your hotel or rented lodging.
- If you are required to self-quarantine and there are other individuals in your residence, hotel room, or rented lodging, you are required to comply with social distancing guidelines.
This Mandate supersedes any local government travel restrictions.
The failure to follow this order is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000, or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both pursuant to Alaska Statute 12.55.035 and Alaska Statute 12.55.135
Authority: AS 26.23.020(g)(7)
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 010
Click Here: COVID-19 Health Mandate 010 Attachment A (Updated 3/27/2020)
Click Here: COVID-19 Health Mandate 010 Travel Declaration
Click Here: COVID-19 Health Mandate 010 Travel Handout
Click Here: Frequently Asked Questions
Health Mandate 009: Personal Care Services and Gatherings
Issued: March 23, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
To prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its ninth health mandate based on the authority under the Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020.
Given the increasing concern for new cases of COVID-19 around Alaska, Governor Mike Dunleavy and the State of Alaska are issuing the following mandate to go into effect March 24, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
The purpose of this mandate is to limit all close contacts (people outside of a family unit) to be farther than six feet from each other to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Mandate 9.1 – State of Alaska – Personal Care Services and Gatherings
- All businesses, congregations, or gatherings in the State of Alaska, where individuals are within six feet of each other must stop all operations. This includes:
- Hair salons
- Day spas and esthetics locations
- Nail salons
- Barber shops
- Tattoo shops
- Body piercing locations
- Massage therapy locations
- Tanning facilities
- Additionally, no gatherings of more than 10 people may take place, and if a gathering does take place people must be six feet apart from each other.
- This Mandate prohibits the delivery of services in any of the above business locations by individuals holding licenses issued by the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers and Board of Massage Therapists.
- This Mandate prohibits operations for rolfing, reiki, acupuncture, acupressure, and similar services.
- This Mandate prohibits licensed massage therapist services spas.
- This Mandate prohibits business operations to continue at tanning facilities.
- The prohibitions in this Mandate apply to services that may be delivered in the customer’s home or in the home of the licensee.
- This order shall take effect March 24, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. and remain in full force and effect until the Governor rescinds or modifies the order.
This mandate does not include urgent, and emergent health care needs, nor health care facilities; however, health care facilities must do risk assessment screening prior to entering the facility.
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 009
Health Mandate 008: Public and Private Schools
Issued: March 20, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
To prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its eighth health mandate based on the authority under the Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020.
Given the increasing concern for new cases of COVID-19 around Alaska,
The purpose of this mandate is to limit all close contacts (people outside of a family unit) to be farther than six feet from each other to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Mandate 8.1 – State of Alaska – Public and Private Schools
Public and private schools are closed to students through May 1, 2020. Students will receive instruction through distance delivery methods. All after school activities will be suspended during this time.
These are measures to protect Alaskans. We appreciate the public’s understanding of this mandate in an effort to mitigate this virus.
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 008
Issued: March 20, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
To prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its seventh health mandate based on the authority under the Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020.
Given the increasing concern for new cases of COVID-19 in the Fairbanks North Star Borough and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, the State of Alaska is issuing the following mandate to go into effect March 21st, 2020 at 8:00 am.
The purpose of this mandate is to limit all close contacts (people outside of a family unit) to be within 6 feet of each other to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Mandate 7.1 – Fairbanks North Star Borough & Ketchikan Gateway Borough – Personal Care Services and Gatherings
- Effective immediately all business, congregations, or gatherings in the Fairbanks North Star Borough and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough where individuals are within 6 feet of each other must stop all operations. This includes:
- Hair salons
- Day spas and esthetics locations
- Nail salons
- Barber shops
- Tattoo shops
- Body piercing locations
- Massage therapy locations
- Tanning facilities
- Additionally no gatherings of more than 10 people may take place, and if a gathering does take place people must be 6 feet apart from each other.
- This Mandate prohibits the delivery of services in any of the above business locations by individuals holding licenses issued by the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and Board of Massage Therapists.
- This Mandate prohibits operations for rolfing, reiki, acupuncture, acupressure, and similar services.
- This Mandate prohibits licensed massage therapist services spas.
- This Mandate prohibits business operations to continue at tanning facilities.
- The prohibitions in this Mandate apply to services that may be delivered in the customer’s home or in the home of the licensee.
- This order shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect until the Governor rescinds or modifies the order.
This mandate does not include urgent, and emergent health care needs, nor health care facilities, however, health care facilities must do risk assessment screening prior to entering the facility.
This mandate is in effect until further notice.
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 007
Health Mandate 006: Elective Oral Health Procedures – Updated 04/09/2020
Issued: March 19, 2020
Updated: April 9, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
***This mandate is in effect until rescinded***
To prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its sixth health mandate based on the authority under the Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020.
The State of Alaska and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) acknowledge the proactive efforts of Alaska’s oral health providers and practitioners to protect the health and safety of patients and the state in response to COVID-19.
Mandate 6.1 – Elective Oral Health Procedures
Dental clinical settings and oral health professionals are recognized within the highest risk categories for both transmission and contraction of the coronavirus, as most dental procedures release significant aerosols in the operatory atmosphere. Therefore, in concurrence with recommendations from the American Dental Association (ADA), the Alaska Dental Society, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, elective oral health care procedures are required to be postponed for a period of one month.
Alaska oral health professionals should be aware:
- There is a growing shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in health care facilities as response to COVID-19 continues. Please closely monitor supplies of PPE.
- There is a high risk of disease in individuals over 60 years of age and individuals with underlying or chronic health conditions.
Recommended actions:
- Postpone all elective and non-essential dental procedures.
- Prioritize treatment for patients experiencing dental emergencies, here defined by the ADA as ‘Health care related to relief of severe dental/oral pain and infection management’.
- To help decrease the overburden of emergency rooms and urgent care facilities as COVID-19 response rapidly increases, oral health practitioners are encouraged to provide emergency dental care through patients’ regular dental home, including after-hours where possible, except in the case of a life-threatening emergency.
- Limit orders and use of PPE to the minimum necessary for emergency care.
Resources for practitioners:
- CDC COVID-19 page for Healthcare Professionals: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/
- ADA Coronavirus Resource Center for Dentists: https://success.ada.org/en/practice-management/patients/infectious-diseases-2019-novel-coronavirus
- Alaska Dental Society: www.akdental.org
- OSAP Coronavirus Tool Kit: www.osap.org/COVID-19
- National Network for Oral Health Access COVID-19 page: www.nnoha.org/covid-19-coronavirus/covid-19-coronavirus-resources/
***This mandate is in effect until rescinded***
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 006
Health Mandate 005: Elective Medical Procedures – Updated 04/07/2020
Updated: April 7, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
The Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020 provides for health mandates to be issued when deemed necessary by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the Alaska Chief Medical Officer, the Alaska Division of Public Health, and the Office of the Governor.
COVID-19 Health Mandate 005, issued on March 19, 2020, required patients, providers, hospitals, and surgical centers to postpone or cancel non-urgent or elective procedures in order help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and thereby decrease the overall impact on the Alaska health care structure, and also to preserve personal protective equipment.
Following ongoing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that healthcare facilities and clinicians should prioritize urgent and emergency visits and procedures now, the State of Alaska is clarifying non-urgent or elective procedures that are to be postponed or canceled under COVID-19 Health Mandate 005. These actions can preserve staff personal protective equipment (PPE) and patient care supplies; ensure staff and patient safety; and expand available hospital capacity.
COVID-19 Health Mandate 005 is revised by adding Attachment C – Non-Urgent or Elective Procedures and Surgeries. This revised Mandate 5.1 supersedes the version issued on March 19, 2020.
Mandate 5.1 – Elective Procedures
All patients, providers, hospitals, and surgical centers are required to postpone or cancel all non-urgent or elective procedures until June 15, 2020 to decrease the overall impact on the Alaska health care structure and preserve personal protective equipment. This would include pre- scheduled surgeries deemed non-essential. This mandate does not apply to surgical cases coming through the emergency room or for an existing hospitalized patient.
The terms “non-urgent or elective” include, but are not limited to, the procedures described on Attachment C – “Non-Urgent or Elective Procedures”. To the extent that the terms “non-urgent or elective” are not fully defined, the state directs each medical office, clinic, surgical center, and hospital create a physician task force that will evaluate all proposed procedures and surgeries on a case-by-case basis to determine if they are non-urgent and elective or can be deferred, and the physician task force will make a determination on all borderline procedures or surgeries for each patient.
This action is taken with the guidance from U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams and the American College of Surgeons: www.facs.org/about-acs/covid-19/information-for-surgeons and www.facs.org/about-acs/covid- 19/information-for-surgeons/triage.
Following guidance from CDC, all routine dental and eye care visits are required to be postponed.
Given Alaska’s distances and limited health care capacity, it is especially important to open acute health care beds for anticipated COVID-19 care and conserve personal protective equipment. The State of Alaska believes that delaying non-emergent procedures is a protective measure both for patients and the health care workforce and will better prepare us for the anticipated impact COVID-19 will have on our health care system.
We appreciate the public’s understanding of this mandate in an effort to mitigate the impacts of this virus.
Click Here: COVID-19 Attachment C – Elective and Non-Urgent Procedures
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 005
Issued: March 17, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
To prevent or slow the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its fourth health mandate.
Higher Risk: If you have traveled from an area with widespread, ongoing community spread such as Europe, China, and other countries (i.e., a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice Area) and are entering Alaska within the past 14 days you must:
- Stay home and avoid contact with other household members.
- Contact your employer and do not go to work or school for this 14-day period after you return.
- CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice Area
China, Iran, South Korea, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City.
Medium Risk: If you have traveled anywhere outside of Alaska, (including the rest of the United States) within the past 14 days you must:
- Keep your distance from others (about six feet or two meters)
- This may mean not going to work or school if you cannot safely be distanced from others – especially if you traveled in a location where community transmission is occurring – contact your employer.
- You must avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public.
Health Guidance for Returning Travelers in the Higher and Medium Risk Groups
- Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.
- If you get sick with fever (>100.3°F), cough, or shortness of breath, please call your health care provider.
- Do not take mass transportation during the time you are practicing social distancing.
- Avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public.
- Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).
- If you seek medical care for other reasons, such as dialysis, call ahead to your doctor and tell them about your recent travel.
All Alaskans should follow previous guidance including regular hand washing, cleaning surfaces and avoiding large gatherings (March 13 COVID-19 Health Alert: Recommendations for Keeping Communities Safe).
Health Mandate 003: Statewide Closure Restaurants, Bars, Entertainment – Updated 04/01/2020
Issued: March 17, 2020
Updated April 1, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
***This Mandate is in effect until rescinded***
To prevent or slow the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its third health mandate.
The Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020, provides for health mandates to be issued when deemed necessary by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the Alaska Chief Medical Officer, the Alaska Division of Public Health, and the Office of the Governor.
Mandate 3.1
By order of the Governor, beginning March 18 at 5 p.m., and continuing until rescinded, the following mandates are in effect:
With the goal of minimizing in-person interaction in enclosed spaces, effective March 18 at 5 p.m. all bars, breweries, restaurants, food and beverage kiosks or trucks, and other establishments serving food or beverages within the State of Alaska, shall be closed to the public for dine-in service. All buffets and salad bars are closed to self-service. A copy of this order, or a sign communicating the closure information, shall be prominently posted by the person having control of the establishment.
Places of public accommodation are encouraged to offer food and beverages using delivery service, window service, walk-up service, drive-through service, or drive-up service, and to use precautions in doing so to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19, including social distancing.
In offering food or beverages, a place of public accommodation subject to this section may permit up to five members of the public at one time in the place of public accommodation for the purpose of picking up their food or beverage orders, so long as those individuals are at least six feet apart from one another while on premises.
All entertainment facilities shall be closed to the public, including theaters, gyms and fitness centers, bowling alleys, and bingo halls.
The restrictions do not apply to any of the following:
- Places of public accommodation that offer food and beverages not for on-premises consumption, including grocery stores, markets, convenience stores, pharmacies, drug stores, and food pantries, with the exception of their self-service buffets and salad bars.
- Health care facilities, pharmacies, child care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities.
- Crisis shelters, soup kitchens, or similar institutions.
- Employee cafeterias within a business, with the exception of their self-service buffets and salad bars.
- Restaurants and food courts inside the secured zones of airports.
These measures are being implemented to protect all Alaskans and we appreciate the public and business community’s understanding of these mandates in an effort to mitigate the impacts of this virus.
***This Mandate is in effect until rescinded***
For the latest information on COVID-19 visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 003
Health Mandate 002: State Libraries, Archives, Museums & Residential Schools – Updated 04/01/2020
Issued: March 16, 2020
Updated: April 1, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
***This Mandate is in effect until rescinded***
To prevent or slow the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its second health mandate.
The Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration, signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020 provides for health mandates to be issued when deemed necessary by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the Alaska Chief Medical Officer, the Alaska Division of Public Health, and the Office of the Governor.
Mandate 2.1
State-operated libraries, archives, and museums serve as public facilities in which Alaskans meet and congregate on a daily basis. In an effort to protect Alaskans and slow the spread of the virus, all libraries, archives, and museums shall be closed to the public from March 17, 2020 until rescinded.
All public programs and events scheduled to be held within and around these facilities are suspended during this time. Staff in libraries, archives, and museums will continue to serve the public through telephone, web, and other modes that preserve the highest degree of social distancing possible.
Mandate 2.2
Given the unpredictability of the rate at which this virus will spread, and the containment measures that may be necessary in our unique state, effective immediately, residential school programs shall begin the process of returning students to their families and home communities. This process shall be completed by Friday, March 27, 2020.
These are measures to protect Alaskans within these facilities. We appreciate the public’s understanding of this mandate in an effort to mitigate this virus.
***This Mandate is in effect until rescinded***
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 002
Printable version of this mandate is available at:
https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/03.16.20-COVID-19-Health-Mandate-002.pdf
Health Mandate 001: Visitation at State Institutes, Non-Contact Student Days at Schools
Issued March 13, 2020
By: Governor Mike Dunleavy
Commissioner Adam Crum, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer, State of Alaska
To prevent or slow the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the State of Alaska is issuing its first health mandate.
The Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy on March 11, 2020 provides for health mandates to be issued when deemed necessary by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the Alaska Chief Medical Officer, the Alaska Division of Public Health, and the Office of the Governor.
Mandate 1.1
In an effort to protect Alaskans and slow the spread of the virus, visitation by the general public shall be suspended for the following state institutions beginning March 14, 2020 at 12:01am:
Suspended Visitation
- Department of Corrections (DOC) Facilities
- Division of Juvenile Justice Facilities
- Alaska Military Youth Academy
- Alaska Psychiatric Institute
Limited Visitation
- Alaska Pioneer Homes
The suspension of visitation shall remain in place until otherwise rescinded by the Department of Health and Social Services and the Office of the Governor. Health practitioners and prior authorized individuals shall contact the appropriate supervising authorities of each institution before entering these facilities.
Mandate 1.2
All scheduled public school days between Monday, March 16, 2020 and March 30, 2020 will be non-student contact days in which students will not be attending school. All after school activities will be suspended during this time. Residential board school programs schedules are being evaluated at this time.
These are measures to protect Alaskans within these facilities. We appreciate the public’s understanding of this mandate in an effort to mitigate this virus.
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov
State of Alaska COVID-19 Mandate 001
