ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The governing body of Alaska’s largest city has passed an emergency ordinance instituting a mask mandate.
The Anchorage Assembly passed the ordinance late Tuesday, and it replaces an earlier proposal that dragged on for weeks amid heated public testimony.
The Anchorage Daily News reports the new ordinance passed on a 9-1 vote and went into effect immediately.
A public hearing is not required for an emergency ordinance. It requires most everyone age 5 or older to wear masks in indoor public areas with some exceptions.
It is in effect for 60 days or until some benchmarks are met indicating a spike in COVID-19 cases is decreasing.
