State health mandate closes restaurants and bars statewide, encourages take out options

To prevent or slow the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), the State of Alaska issued a health mandate Tuesday closing restaurant, bars, and other establishments offering dine-in service statewide beginning March 18 at 5 p.m. through April 1 at 5 p.m.

The mandate states: “With the goal of minimizing in-person interaction in enclosed spaces… 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 dine-in service. All buffets and salad bars are closed to self-service.”

Businesses are encouraged to offer food and beverage 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. Read the full mandate to see more details on takeout requirements.

The City and Borough of Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt said Juneau is committed to doing its part to support the statewide approach to combatting COVID-19: “We know that this closure of bars and restaurants is going to be very hard on the business community. Juneau citizens can look local and help these food service businesses by patronizing their takeout and delivery services.”

In addition, 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 beverage 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, childcare 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.

Earlier in the day, Governor Mike Dunleavy announced the creation of the Economic Stabilization Team, a bipartisan group of leaders that will work on a plan to protect the state’s economy from the impact of COVID-19. Watt commended this action. “Alaskans are all in this together and Alaska will provide a unified voice to our congressional delegation,” he said. Visit juneau.org/covid-19 for information, links, and resources to help keep Juneau safe and healthy.

For more information, contact City Manager Rorie Watt at 586-5240 or [email protected].