Masks may soon be required in Wrangell’s public indoor spaces again. The borough assembly will consider reinstating an enforceable mask mandate at a meeting Tuesday evening.
The proposed face covering ordinance is almost identical to an ordinance passed last November: face coverings would be required in indoor public settings, and violators could be fined $25. The November ordinance expired after three weeks.
But there is one major change from the past ordinance: transparent face shields would not satisfy the mask mandate. That’s in keeping with federal guidance.
The assembly will also consider travel testing and quarantine requirements on Tuesday. Travelers will be required to provide negative test results, or test at the Wrangell airport and social distance until test results arrive. Followup tests will be required five to 14 days after arrival. Wrangell residents would have the option of quarantining two weeks in lieu of testing.
The ordinance does not specify how these requirements are to be enforced.
The city has registered four active cases of COVID-19 over the last two weeks.
Wrangell’s EOC reports that contact tracing for one of the cases was delayed after the individual refused initial interviews. And one case had not responded to Public Health calls as of Sunday afternoon, the city said in a statement.
The EOC said it recommends the mandate because of the delay in contact tracing in Wrangell, and after neighboring Petersburg has registered at least 60 active cases over the last two weeks.
Wrangell’s indoor recreation facilities remain closed through at least March 8. And the Wrangell Senior Center announced Monday morning that rides on the senior center bus will be limited to one senior at a time, with breaks between for additional cleaning. City facilities are still open to the public.
The special assembly meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday (March 2). It will be available via phone and videoconference. KSTK will broadcast the meeting on 101.7 FM and stream at KSTK.org.
Those wishing to address the Wrangell Assembly have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to register to speak at the meeting by emailing clerk@wrangell.com or calling city hall at 907-874-2381.
Get in touch with KSTK at news@kstk.org or (907) 874-2345.
