* SPECIAL EDITION *

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT

Discussion of:
MANDATE #2 – SHELTER IN PLACE
7pm – Wednesday

City Council meetings are open to the public. To encourage good social distancing practices, the meeting will be livestreamed on the City of Valdez agendas website: www.valdezak.gov/agendas. Click the "In Progress" link during the meeting to view the livestream. Video recording of the meeting will also be posted in the same location following the meeting.

KVAK Radio will carry the LIVE Meeting on 93.3FM & 1230AM, as well as on their website and app.

Those who choose to attend the meeting in person are instructed to practice good social distancing and remain at least six feet away from others.

The City is working to establish a public call-in number to facilitate remote community participation in future City Council meetings. Until that phone number is established, please first review published agenda materials then send any public comments or questions by email to aferko@valdezak.gov no later than 4:30pm today. Comments and questions will be collected, provided to City Council and posted on the agendas website linked above.

LOCAL UPDATES

The Valdez City Council passed Valdez Public Health Mandate 001 on Monday night in a special meeting. Mandate 001 passed unanimously following approval of multiple amendments. Mandate 001 effectively states that ANYONE coming into Valdez by air or sea, or arriving in Valdez from an area within 100 miles of an area with a known infection, must self-quarantine for 14 days. Mandate language allows for being outside, but encourages being inside as much as possible and practicing social distancing.
Read Official Mandate HERE

Mandate 001 is also retroactive. For example: If you were in Anchorage last week and have only been home in Valdez for four days, you are now required to self-quarantine for the next 10 days. If you go to Fairbanks next weekend, you are now required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon your return to Valdez. Self-quarantine start date is the date a person last entered Valdez.

Mandate 001 includes certain exemptions, following federal guidelines, for those who work in industries considered critical infrastructure. However, the exemptions require the employee and employer to make every attempt to keep said employee out of contact with others and follow guidelines for healthy interaction. Businesses may petition the city manager for an exception by sending an email with justification to COVID-19@valdezak.gov
CLICK HERE for Alaska Critical Workforce Infrastructure

Additionally, Council passed Ordinance # 20-03 which to an ordinance that allows for enforcement of Emergency Mandates. Defying a Mandate could result in $500 fine and mandatory court appearance. Valdez Police Department said their goal is not to ticket people but they would impose fines on blatant violations.

While the Valdez City Council meeting was in progress Monday, the Governor announced a 14 day quarantine on travelers coming into Alaska from other countries and states. City of Valdez PIO Allie Ferko briefed the City Council on the State mandate and the Council decided to proceed with the City mandate because it addresses travel within Alaska, where the State mandate does not.
Read State Travel Order HERE

The City Council also discussed a potential 'hunker down' or shelter in place mandate and said they are working on a draft which would be readily available if needed in the future. Medical liaison, Dr. Sam Shirk, advised against a shelter in place order at this time, citing health and mental wellness considerations.

CITY OF VALDEZ OFFICIAL HEALTH MANDATE #1:
ENTRY TO VALDEZ

All entry into Valdez: If you are entering Valdez by air or sea, or arriving in Valdez from a location within one-hundred (100) road miles of a known community with positively identified COVID-19 infection, or have entered or arrived in Valdez as provided above within the last fourteen (14) days, you must:

1. Self-quarantine and maintain appropriate social distance from others (about 6ft) for 14-days from the date of your last arrival in Valdez.

2. Contact your employer and self-quarantine for the entirety of that 14-day period.

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE EXCEPTION: If you work in an industry classified as "critical infrastructure" by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, it is the expectation that every attempt will be made by you and your employer to comply with this 14-day mandate or that appropriate steps are taken.
Effective March 23, 2020 at 10:00 p.m.
Read more HERE

STATE MANDATE: INT'L & INTERSTATE TRAVEL ORDER FOR SELF-QUARANTINE

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.

If your business is included in the Critical infrastructure, 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 p.m. March 24, outlining how you will avoid the spread of COVID-19 and not endanger the lives of the communities in which you operate.

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.
Remain in your designated quarantine location for a period of 14 days, or the duration of your stay in Alaska, whichever is shorter.

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

Read complete Mandate HERE
CLICK for Alaska Critical Workforce Infrastructure

CLICK for State Mandatory Travel Declaration Form

See larger image HERE

STATE MANDATE: PERSONAL CARE SERVICES & GATHERINGS

Effective March 24, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

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:
1. Hair salons
2. Day spas and esthetics locations
3. Nail salons
4. Barber shops
5. Tattoo shops
6. Body piercing locations
7. Massage therapy locations
8. 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.

Read complete Mandate HERE

CHECK THIS PAGE FOR COVID-19 BUSINESS UPDATES
Wondering if a local business is open? What businesses are doing to follow guidelines and provide accommodations to assist the community during this uncertain time?
CLICK HERE to visit the COVID-19 BUSINESS BULLETIN page.
The Business Bulletin is a free service to the local business community, sponsored by the City of Valdez Economic Development Department (VUCRG member) in partnership with KVAK. KVAK is reading a bulletin board type announcement on-air each day with business content and the Valdez Unified Community Response Group is sharing information on their Facebook Page.

ASAA CANCELS 2020 SPRING EVENTS

The Alaska School Activities Association is announcing cancellation of all 2020 spring events, championships, regular season contest and practices.

This decision applies to the following: All-State Art, Esports (Spring Season), Solo & Ensemble, Track & Field, Soccer, Baseball and Softball.
Read more HERE

ARE YOU A BUSINESS, WANTING TO POST A COVID-19 BUSINESS UPDATE?
If you have a local business and you feel it would be helpful to let the public know you are following guidelines and providing accommodations to assist the community during this uncertain time, CLICK HERE or on the red button above to submit information.
KVAK is reading a bulletin board type announcement on-air each day with business content and the Valdez COVID-19 Unified Command is sharing information on their Facebook Page.

SYMPTOMS, LOCAL MEDICAL PROVIDERS, & PROTOCOL FOR TREATMENT

CLICK for full size image
If you have the following symptoms, call before you go to the doctor's office, public health clinic or hospital: Fever over 100.4 degrees, cough, or shortness of breath.

VALDEZ NEIGHBORS FACEBOOK GROUP

CLICK HERE to visit the group
(Coordinated by members of the Valdez COVID-19 Unified Command)
Consistent with the spirit of Valdez, this group’s purpose is to help connect resources to those who most need them. If you HAVE things that can be shared (i.e. toilet paper, cleaning/sanitizing supplies, etc.) or are aware of neighbors who NEED help, please send a private message to one of the group admins. List can be found HERE.

LOCAL SOURCES FOR COVID-19 UPDATES & INFO

VALDEZ COVID-19 UNIFIED COMMAND
The Valdez Unified Command membership is comprised of local medical professionals and community leaders. The group is actively collaborating to address local concerns, coordinate efforts, share resources and ensure the public is informed.
CLICK HERE to visit the VUCRG Facebook Page
CLICK HERE to visit the Unified Command Website

LOCAL, STATEWIDE & NATIONAL NEWS AT KVAKRADIO.COM
Information about COVID-19 and local news podcasts will be posted at:
www.kvakradio.com and the KVAK App. Information, Updates & Links about Coronavirus will be posted HERE

STATE & NATIONAL RESOURCES

CASE COUNT, SITUATION OVERVIEW & RESOURCES FROM CDC
The CDC is working to develop pages on local media websites with important links to up-to-date information. CLICK HERE for the link to this resource on KVAK’s Website. There’s a wealth of information on this page, including: World Map with global case numbers reported by the World Health Organization; a page that is updated daily with information on testing; and statistics on cases reported in the United States that is updated every weekday at noon.

STATE OF ALASKA DEPT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES (DHSS)
This Page includes quick links to information from DHSS
CLICK HERE for: State of Alaska’s COVID-19: Situation Overview
Health Mandates
Health Alerts
Updates & Teleconferences
Press Releases

JIM JOHNSON - UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT LETTER TO EMPLOYEES & STUDENTS

March 22, 2020
Dear students, staff and faculty,
Tomorrow morning, we will end our extended spring break. When students return to classes, things will look much different than they did less than three short weeks ago.

As we restart the spring semester, our university communities, like those throughout our state, now must study, work, live and play differently. These new conditions bring new responsibilities for all of us, and a new way to serve our friends, neighbors and colleagues.

*** SPECIAL EDITION ***

CITY OF VALDEZ OFFICIAL HEALTH MANDATE #1: ENTRY TO VALDEZ

STATE MANDATE: PERSONAL CARE SERVICES & GATHERINGS

LOCAL SOURCES FOR COVID-19 UPDATES & INFO

* SPECIAL EDITION *

CITY OF VALDEZ OFFICIAL HEALTH MANDATE #1:
ENTRY TO VALDEZ