The Soldotna City Council passed a resolution, repealing a previous resolution that recommended masks be worn in public indoor portions of city owned buildings, while the Central Kenai Peninsula was experiencing substantial or high transmission of COVID-19. In passing the resolution, the current policy as previously adopted no longer aligns with current CDC guidance.
Council Member Justin Ruffridge, who sponsored the resolution, told KSRM:
“We’ve never supported a mask mandate citywide, although there was some talk of that early during COVID. The one thing that we did bring forward was asking that masks be worn in public areas of city owned buildings during the peak of our pandemic. Then, a few months ago, we reduced that to just a recommendation while cases were still high and then following CDC guidance with the removal of masking in public areas nationwide, we’ve followed suit, which is why, being on the consent agenda, made the most sense.”
Ruffridge said this should come as a relief to many area residents:
“I’ve tried to bring some attention to it towards the end of the meeting just because it did feel like a celebratory moment to just say we’ve reached a place where maybe this doesn’t have to be on the forefront of our conversation and thought process and having spent the last two years with that being a major part of our existence, both professionally and in my city roles, it was a good moment.”
In February 2022, the CDC revised its definition and metrics for community risk levels and its public health guidance regarding masking and social distancing. According to the updated metrics, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is currently considered ‘low’ risk and therefore wearing a mask indoors is no longer a CDC recommendation.
The resolution passed through consent agenda.