Alaska COVID Cases Increase To 2

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Governor Issues Second COVID-19 Health Mandate; Signs COVID-19 Legislation

March 16, 2020

March 16, 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 002 to prevent and slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The mandate closes state operated libraries, archives, and museums to the public from March 17, 2020 through March 31, 2020. All public programs and events scheduled to be held within and around these facilities are suspended in this time. Staff will continue to serve the public through telephone, web, and other modes that preserve the highest degree of social distancing.

Additionally, residential school programs shall begin the process of sending students to their families and home communities. This process should be completed by March 27th.

A signed copy of the COVID-19 Health Mandate 002 can be found here.

COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Legislation

Governor Dunleavy today in his Anchorage Office signed two pieces of timely legislation to help Alaska’s COVID-19 response and preparedness.

House Bill 206 provides financial resources to DHSS for COVID-19 preparedness and response $4 million in state funds and provides open ended authority to accept any federal funds for COVID-19 response, as requested by the Governor on March 2, 2020.

House Bill 29 requires health care insurers to provide coverage for telehealth benefits and can reduce consumer and insurer costs. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC and the Alaska Chief Medical Officer have encouraged those with flu-like symptoms to utilize telehealth benefits before overloading the healthcare system, especially emergency rooms.

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, [email protected]  (907) 310-4961

https://gov.alaska.gov/newsroom/2020/03/16/governor-issues-second-covid-19-health-mandate-signs-covid-19-legislation/