Peter Segall | Juneau Empire                                 Pedestrians in downtown Juneau on Monday, July 20, 2020. The City and Borough of Juneau approved a mandate for cloth face-covering in public spaces at a special meeting Monday night.

Peter Segall | Juneau Empire Pedestrians in downtown Juneau on Monday, July 20, 2020. The City and Borough of Juneau approved a mandate for cloth face-covering in public spaces at a special meeting Monday night.

Governor urges Alaskans to wear masks

Health and business groups join calls for health precautions

Gov. Mike Dunleavy strongly urged Alaskans to wear masks or cloth face coverings when in public, with or without a mandate.

“It’s a tool in place of social distancing,” Dunleavy said of mask-wearing. “My goal is not to get folks afraid. We’re going to get through this, but this is going to be a major inconvenience. We’re not talking about a mandate, we’re asking folks, especially younger folks, put up your guard.”

The state is seeing a spike in cases, and Dunleavy brought representatives from Alaska’s medical and business community to make strong requests for the public to wear masks when entering local businesses.

Dunleavy asked Alaskans to be vigilant about wearing masks at the news conference Wednesday alongside Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum; Chief of Epidemiology Dr. Joe McLaughlin; Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink; Anna Frick, DHSS research analyst; Kim Spink, DHSS nurse consultant; Sarah Oates, CEO/president of the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association; Silvia Villamides, executive director, Alaska Hospitality Retailers; and Kati Capozzi, president/CEO, Alaska Chamber of Commerce, each of whom asked that masks be worn in public places.

[94 new cases confirmed in Alaska]

People who come within six feet of another person should wear masks or take other health care precautions even while outside, McLaughlin said.

“Even if you’re going to be outdoors, it’s a good idea to have a face covering,” McLaughlin said. “Think of that 6-foot rule. It’s a good idea to have a mask or a face covering.”

Juneau Monday enacted a mask mandate, but that only applies indoors.

The recent spike in cases could partly be attributed to social gatherings where health precautions weren’t followed, Dunleavy said, and he asked Alaskans to social distance and wear masks when interacting with people from other households.

While the governor emphasized his requests were not a mandate, he did announce a requirement that masks be worn at all state buildings in areas where social distancing is not possible.

“If the cases are growing we want to do our part,” Dunleavy said. “A lot of us have let our guard down, gotten a little too close, a little too often.”

• Contact reporter Peter Segall at psegall@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @SegallJnoEmpire.

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ships in Port for the Week of June 4

Here’s what to expect this week.

The author’s wife hikes down the ridge of a still snow-covered mountain. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
I Went to the Woods: The summer bod

It’s summer bod time. Not in a show it off at the… Continue reading

Former President Donald Trump listens as he speaks with reporters while in flight on his plane after a campaign rally at Waco Regional Airport, in Waco, Texas, on March 25 while en route to West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Trump charged over classified documents in 1st federal indictment of an ex-president

MIAMI — Donald Trump said Thursday that he was indicted for mishandling… Continue reading

Key Bank was one of the banks victimized by a Juneau man who pleaded guilty Thursday to federal theft charges after stealing nearly $580,000 from multiple banks and credit unions between 2019 and 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau man pleads guilty to nearly $580,000 bank fraud

He faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Hazel Sutton, 13, pauses at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge at the end of her shift monitoring tree swallow nest-boxes. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Alaska Science Forum: A new teenager and her unusual bird

Hazel Sutton was eating lunch on an island at Tanana Lakes Recreation… Continue reading

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Greg Smith smiles Thursday afternoon while walking across the rainbow crosswalk recently repainted in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Faces of Pride: Assembly member Greg Smith

“For me it’s about acceptance, respect and understanding where people are in their lives.”

Fenton Jacobs, 42, was sentenced to 53 years in prison Tuesday after being found guilty of a number of charges from his involvement in a 2019 stabbing. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Man sentenced to 53 years for fatal downtown stabbing

The sentencing follows a guilty verdict last June for the 2019 crime.

City and Borough of Juneau administration and Assembly members smile for a picture during the Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night, which was city Finance Director Jeff Rogers last finance meeting after serving four years in his position. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Assembly and chamber bid farewell to outgoing city finance director

Jeff Rogers will depart from his position at the end of June.

Ships in Port for the Week of June 11

Here’s what to expect this week.

Most Read