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Frequently Asked Questions about Health Mandate 12

Health Mandate 12 - Intrastate Travel - Limiting travel between communities to critical infrastructure or critical personal needs

Issued March 27. Goes into effect March 28, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. Will be reevaluated by April 11, 2020. Find full text and attachments available at:  SOA March 27 COVID-19 Health Mandate 12


What is the purpose of mandate 12?

The purpose of this mandate is to control the movement of individuals within Alaska in order to prevent, slow and otherwise disrupt the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

How long does mandate 12 last?

The intrastate travel mandate goes into effect at 8 a.m. on March 28, 2020 and remains in effect until the Governor of Alaska rescinds or modifies the order. It will be reevaluated by April 11.

What does mandate 12 say?

All in-state travel between communities, whether resident, worker, or visitor, is prohibited unless travel is to support critical infrastructure or for critical personal needs. Certain Small Alaskan communities may implement further travel restriction pursuant to Alaska Small Community Emergency Travel Order - Attachment B.

What does mandate 12 mean?

Unless you are obtaining or providing an essential service that requires you to be out in the public, Alaskans should not be traveling between communities. Alaskans may go outside to exercise and recreate, but must maintain a distance of six feet or more from other members of the public.

Workers are encouraged to work from home, unless they work in health care, public service or other businesses deemed essential, as defined in the Alaska Essential Services and Critical Workforce Infrastructure Order (formerly Attachment A).

This mandate covers the entire state. The goal is to eliminate any unnecessary contacts outside of immediate family members to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, while maintaining essential health care services, public government services, and other essential business activities.

How is “community” defined?

The prohibition on travel between communities is designed so that people must use the closest available services to fulfill critical personal needs.

Common sense applies – normal usage of location names and understanding of geographic separation applies when asking about community boundaries. For instance, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, and Anchorage are all separate communities.

You may only travel to another community for critical personal needs if you cannot meet those needs in your community.

Are employees of essential services and critical infrastructure permitted to travel?

Yes, but essential services and critical infrastructure entities are recommended to limit their travel within Alaska to key personnel, in order to mitigate the risk to their own employees and the communities where they operate.

However, those entities are required to submit a travel plan or protocol consistent with mandates.

Does mandate 12 supersede earlier mandates?

This mandate strengthens and clarifies pre-existing mandates, but does not revoke those mandates. Is commercial fishing considered an essential service, and can fishing vessels sail port to port?

Yes, commercial fishing is an essential service and part of critical infrastructure. Fishing vessels can sail to port to port in Alaska, but have the responsibility to monitor their crew for signs and symptoms, report any issues to the appropriate authorities, and mitigate the risk of exposure to the small communities in which they operate.

Is oil production, shipping, and refining essential?

Yes.

Are airports still open?

Yes, the public airports in Alaska remain open. Travel is limited to essential travel, and in addition, anyone coming into Alaska from out of state is required to complete a Travel Declaration Form (ready.alaska.gov/form) and self-quarantine for 14 days, per State of Alaska Mandate 10.1. Airport officials are encouraging social distancing throughout airport facilities.

Can I drive to visit or fly to visit another family member in Alaska?

No. This is not considered “essential business.”

Can I drive to my cabin and hunker down there?

It depends.

If your cabin is your home – your primary “place of residence” – you may return to your cabin and remain there, if there are no additional travel restrictions imposed by that community.

Please remember that the purpose of these mandates are to reduce unnecessary travel and interactions, thereby reducing spread of COVID-19. Where you have options, consider which option will be the most considerate of your fellow Alaskans. If you can stay in your current location for the time being, consider waiting before going to stay another location.

See: Mandate 12: Intrastate Travel
All in-state travel between communities, whether resident, worker, or visitor, is prohibited unless travel is to support critical infrastructure, or for critical personal needs. Certain Small Alaskan communities may implement further travel restriction pursuant to Alaska Small Community Emergency Travel Order - Attachment B

See: Mandate 11: Social Distancing
All persons in Alaska, except for those engaged in essential health care services, public government services, and essential business activities, are mandated to remain at their place of residence and practice social distancing.

Can I recreate with others outside my family?

You are not prohibited from recreating with others outside your family, but you must stay six feet away from non-household members, and must stay in your community. You also must not be in a group larger than nine.

Can I leave my community to engage in outdoor recreation (such as snowmachining or camping)?

Outdoor activity near your home is encouraged for your health and well-being.

Alaskans are encouraged to recreate as close to home as possible, but if you must travel out of your community for recreation you are expected to take precautions, including: bring your own cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer; maintain social distancing of six feet or more from any non-household member; take the most direct routes and go straight to trailheads, parking lots, cabin or camping site; and avoiding contact with non-household members.

When engaging in outdoor recreation, you must comply with social distancing requirements, including maintaining at least six feet distance from people who do not live in your immediate household.

Social distancing requirements are in effect on paths, trails, sidewalks, riverbanks, beaches, parks, and anyplace outside on private or public property where people might gather.

Crowds of 10 people or more are prohibited, even if you are at an outdoor location.

Can I drive somewhere to recreate?

You are not prohibited from driving, but you must stay six feet away from non-household members, and are requested to stay in your community.

My business falls within the Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure exception.  Do I have to submit a travel plan or protocol?

If employees of your business engage in interstate travel, you must submit a travel plan or protocol for maintaining critical infrastructure to akcovidplans@ak-prepared.com.

See: Health Mandate 10.1 – International and Interstate Travel
If employees of your business travel between communities within the state of Alaska, you must submit a travel plan or protocol for maintaining critical infrastructure to akcovidplans@ak-prepared.com.

See: Health Mandate 12: Intrastate Travel
If your business does not employ anyone who travels between communities or out of state, you do not have to submit a plan.

Please reference these FAQs and remember that Anchorage, Eagle River, and Palmer are separate communities.

I live in the Valley but work in a “critical infrastructure job” in Anchorage. Can I travel between communities for work?

Yes. However, you must follow social distancing even while commuting. Common sense measures, such as filling your tank with gas before leaving your community, will help prevent unnecessary interactions.

See: Health Mandate 12: Intrastate Travel
Personal travel is prohibited except as necessary to meet critical personal needs or work in critical infrastructure jobs. Critical personal needs include buying, selling, or delivering groceries and home goods; obtaining fuel for vehicles or residential needs; transporting family members for out-of-home care, essential health needs, or for purposes of child custody exchanges; receiving essential health care; providing essential health care to a family member; obtaining other important goods; and engaging in subsistence activities. Travelers are reminded to follow social distancing measures, including, to the extent reasonably feasible, keeping six feet away from others, avoiding crowded places, and limiting public gatherings to less than ten people.

Do these mandates affect child custody for parents who live in different communities?

Travel for purposes of child custody exchange is specifically allowed as a “critical personal need.”

However, you must still follow social distancing measures to include keeping six feet away from non- household members. It is advisable to take precautions to avoid any unnecessary stops or interactions during travel (for instance, by filling your tank before you leave and bringing snacks for long trips).

I live in the Valley but typically shop in Anchorage. Can I continue to travel to Anchorage for shopping?

No, unless it is necessary to meet a critical personal need or work in a critical infrastructure job. If the personal need can be met in the community, you may not travel to another community for similar shopping needs.

See: Health Mandate 12: Intrastate Travel
Personal travel is prohibited except as necessary to meet critical personal needs or work in critical infrastructure jobs. Critical personal needs include buying, selling, or delivering groceries and home goods; obtaining fuel for vehicles or residential needs; transporting family members for out-of-home care, essential health needs, or for purposes of child custody exchanges; receiving essential healthcare; providing essential health care to a family member; obtaining other important goods; and engaging in subsistence activities. Travelers are reminded to follow social distancing measures, including, to the extent reasonably feasible, keeping six feet away from others, avoiding crowded places, and limiting public gatherings to less than ten people.

Can people under quarantine take their pets to the vet in an emergency?

If you are under a post-travel quarantine under Mandate 10, there is no exception for veterinary visits. However, vets are considered critical infrastructure and can continue to operate.

If you are concerned about your pet’s health, please contact the veterinary clinic for advice.

Can I visit my significant other, if we don’t live in the same household?

Unfortunately, you cannot. This is a difficult time for everyone who can’t be with their loved ones in person. However, it is by keeping physical distance that you are protecting each other. Virtual methods of communication are encouraged.

Remember that strictly complying with these restrictions will be the most important factor in shortening the time that the restrictions are necessary.

Your page does not tell us the specifics of positive cases. Are you going to give detailed information, such as where infected people work or live?

We want to keep Alaskans as informed as possible on COVID-related issues. Part of this process involves hard work by the epidemiology team to investigate and trace all contacts by a person who tests positive so that anyone at risk can be notified.

We cannot disclose protected health information of individual people. Part of respecting all Alaskans is respecting the lives of Alaskans who have tested positive for this virus, and not putting them at unnecessary risk by disclosing personal information.

Please be assured that when there is information that is vital to preventing spread, we will share what is needed.