(SitNews) Anchorage, Alaska - Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services on Thursday issued new guidance on the State of Alaska’s 16th COVID-19 Health Mandate, Phase Two of the Reopen Alaska Responsibly Plan.

Guidance was issued on the following topics: non-essential public facing businesses generally; retail businesses; restaurants dine-in services; personal care services; non-essential non-public facing businesses; fishing charters; gyms, fitness centers, sports, and recreational facilities; social, religious, and other gatherings; libraries, museums, and archives; swimming pools; bars; theaters; bowling alleys; and bingo halls.

Phase Two of the Reopen Alaska Responsibly Plan took effect Friday, May 8, 2020 at 8:00am.

Phase Two:

• 50% capacity for businesses such as retail, restaurants, personal care and offices
• 25% capacity for gyms, bars, libraries and theaters
• Swimming pools open to 50% of pool capacity
• Walk-ins allowed for restaurants and bars
• Social and religious gatherings of up to 50 people, including non-household members (with social distancing)

Protective Guidelines:

• Continue social distancing. Stay at least six feet away from non-household members. Keep your social circle as small as possible.
• Cloth face coverings are strongly encouraged in public and around non-household members.
• Wash your hands frequently and regularly clean frequently-touched objects and surfaces.
• Minimize social interactions while supporting businesses by ordering online, using pick- up, take-out and home delivery services and using cashless and receipt-less payment options.
• Stay home and isolate yourself from others if you’re sick. If you have symptoms that could be COVID-19, contact a health care provider to get tested as soon as possible.
• Individuals should consider their personal level of risk. Alaskans 65 and older or anyone with underlying health conditions should continue to minimize their exposure to others, including household members who have returned to work or are going out in public.
• Continue to encourage telework.
• Pre-shift screening of employees.
• The less contact with others, the less chance of spreading the virus to others.

On the Web:

All Reopening Guidance Documents
www.covid19.alaska.gov/reopen. 

Governor’s COVID-19 Health Mandates
https://covid19.alaska.gov/health-mandates

Latest information on Alaska’s response to COVID-19 
https://covid19.alaska.gov/

Source of News:

Office of the Governor
www.gov.alaska.gov

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