ANCHOR, Alaska (KTUU) – It is a joint effort by the City of Anchorage and the hospitality industry to reduce the growing number of COVID-19 cases associated with these high-risk environments.
During Tuesday’s briefing, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz joined CHARR CEO and President Sarah Oates.
The Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retail Association is one of several business organizations working with the city to ensure that there is no other closure due to an increase in industry-related COVID-19 cases.
It is an effort to help the local economy, while keeping employees, customers and those with whom they can contact safe.
Oates calls on companies to self-limit capacity and expand additional or outdoor spaces in an effort to increase safe distance.
He also suggested eliminating live music and dancing, to consider closing early and being adamant about not admitting anyone not to cover their faces.
The industry and the city strongly recommend these prevention tips, after municipal health officials reported a significant increase in cases, in what they referred to as high-risk settings.
According to the director of the Anchorage Health Department, Natasha Pineda, not only are more cases associated with bars and other large gatherings reported, but a large increase in the contacts of each person is also reported.
For example, someone who tested positive previously reported an average of three to five contacts.
After these meetings, those reports are now up to 30 to 50 contacts and, in some cases, up to 100 interactions.
According to Pineda, between June 20 and 29, that increase in cases was associated with large group gatherings, including bars, restaurants, tourism, and even a strip club.
In each case, Pineda says that the person was not, “wearing masks and without adhering to social distancing.”
Both the industry and the mayor expressed their appreciation for the continued collaboration, as a way not only to improve security but also to improve the economic outlook for local businesses.
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