Emergency Order EO-18 Takes Effect February 1 in Anchorage
Municipality of Anchorage
Emergency Order EO-18 carefully eases up restrictions on some of the economy’s hardest-hit sectors while keeping certain limits in place to prevent the virus from returning to extremely high-risk levels.
The order took effect, Monday, February 1, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. and remains in effect until revoked.
Over the last month, COVID-19 case rates in Anchorage have continued to drop to levels last seen in early October 2020. This improvement, along with positive trends in other health metrics, allows for a careful loosening of some of the measures contained in EO-17.
EO-18 directs the following:
- Individuals limit outings and physical contact to those within their household and must wear a face covering or mask when in public.
- Gatherings may have up to 10 people indoors when food or beverage are present, and up to 15 people indoors when food or beverage are not present. Outdoor gatherings may have up to 30 people when food or beverage are present, and up to 50 people when food or beverage are not present. Specific exceptions are provided in Attachment I.
- Bars and restaurants may operate indoor and outdoor seated table service only up to 50 percent capacity. All businesses must stop serving alcohol after 12:00 a.m. Additional requirements for the hospitality industry are provided in Attachment D.
Current Issue
September 2026
- Entertainment facilities may operate at up to 50 percent capacity, with additional requirements provided in Attachment H.
- Organized sports are allowed to compete indoors if between teams from within the Municipality. Organized sports may not compete with teams from outside the Municipality. Additional requirements are provided in Attachment E.
- Indoor gyms and fitness centers may operate up to 50 percent capacity and indoor group fitness classes must ensure 6 feet of physical distancing between participants. Additional requirements are provided in Attachment F.
- Salons and personal care service providers may operate up to 50 percent capacity, with additional requirements provided in Attachment G.
- All retail and other public-facing businesses may operate up to 50 percent building occupancy and must maintain physical distancing.
- Employers must require employees to work from home when remote work does not significantly impede business operations.
EO-18 and the attachments may be found on the Emergency Orders page of the Municipality’s COVID-19 website. Mental health resources are also available on the Municipality’s COVID-19 website.
Businesses or entities that have questions about the Municipality’s COVID-19 response may email COVID-19-business@anchorageak.
Anchorage residents seeking more information about the Municipality’s COVID-19 response may email COVID-19@anchorageak.gov, call Alaska 2-1-1, or leave a voicemail at 907-343-4019.
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