The community is under a face mask order for all indoor public spaces until 11:59 p.m. April 30, though the borough assembly removed any penalties from the ordinance.
The April 8-16 outbreak of 16 COVID-19 cases in Wrangell prompted an emergency assembly meeting Saturday to consider the public health ordinance bringing back mandatory face masks for a couple of weeks.
Assembly members, however, voted near unanimously to eliminate any penalties for failure to wear a face mask. Mayor Steve Prysunka was the only objecting vote to the amendment.
Removing even the possibility of a fine or other penalty might be more effective in getting people to mask up, Assembly Member Patty Gilbert said at the meeting. "I'm just thinking this may make it more palatable to increase compliance."
The city reported a new COVID case late Tuesday afternoon.
In addition to proposing removal of any penalties for non-compliance with the face mask order, Gilbert's amendment also added a provision to the ordinance that "community members shall not harass members who do, or do not comply with this ordinance."
Assembly members Gilbert, Bob Dalrymple, Terry Courson, Ryan Howe and Anne Morrison voted for the amendment. The mayor voted no on the amendment and then yes on the ordinance. Assembly Member David Powell was absent.
Courson told the assembly that people are tired of masking and other constraints during the pandemic. "It seems a manufactured hysteria, from my perspective," he said of restrictions to limit the spread of the virus.
No one from the public signed up to testify at the Saturday morning meeting.
The police chief confirmed for the assembly that no one has been ticketed under previous mask orders. He said the department had taken a more educational position than a punitive one. Police, when called, would talk with the person and explain the requirement.
Prysunka said police need the enforcement authority of possible penalties so that they can approach and talk with people who are not wearing a mask in a public space, he said.
The 16 infections reported in eight days "is the highest number by double we've ever had active in Wrangell at any one time," Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen said in presenting the ordinance to the assembly. Many of the cases are attributed to community spread.
The outbreak the past week represented about 30% of all the cases counted in Wrangell in the past year.
Every one of the 16 infected people were experiencing symptoms, Von Bargen said.
"It's nobody's fault. ... Now the concern is we absolutely are seeing community spread," the mayor said in an interview two days before the assembly meeting. "This is our new reality."
In addition to protecting public health, Von Bargen said the outbreak is hurting the town's economy. The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium canceled its quarterly meeting, which was scheduled for Wrangell, and the Wrangell Medical Center open house also was canceled, ending plans for people to come to town for the event, she said.
"That's money out of the pockets of our businesspeople," the manager said.
It's important that the community stop the spread of the Coronavirus before more activities start up next month, she said.
"Let's see if we can do a two-week push to help arrest the spread," Von Bargen said. "The least invasive way is a two-week reset of the mask mandate."
Wrangell has ordered face masks twice in the past year during the pandemic.
"If we dig deep right now, we probably should be able to shut this down," Dr. Lynn Prysunka, of SEARHC, told the assembly.
More of the people infected in the recent outbreak were showing symptoms of the Coronavirus than in past cases in town, the doctor said. There were no severe cases reported, she said Saturday.
People without symptoms who want a COVID-19 test can get one at the airport when workers are there to meet the morning and afternoon Alaska Airlines flights, Wrangell Fire Department Capt. Dorianne Sprehe told the assembly.
Anyone with symptoms should call the Wrangell Medical Center for a test appointment. All tests are free.
The masking order applies to grocery stores and all other retail stores; restaurants, cafes and bars, including carry-out and delivery operations (with exceptions for customers while they are eating or drinking); personal care facilities; child care facilities; and communal areas and offices where people from multiple households are present.
The ordinance also says, "restaurants and bars should reduce capacity to ensure the ability for six feet of separation between parties," and that "personal services should be by appointment only with one customer per provider and no waiting areas."
It also calls for a halt to group gym or exercise activities.
About 60% of eligible Wrangell residents have received at least their first vaccination shot, Dr. Prysunka said.
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