Cordova reopens May 28

Restaurants, stores, churches, sports venues may return to business

Cordova Harbor. (May 25, 2020) Photo by Zachary Snowdon Smith/The Cordova Times

Cordova City Council voted unanimously to allow businesses and public venues to reopen beginning 8 a.m. Thursday, May 28. The decision was taken at a Wednesday, May 27 special meeting.

Beginning May 28, the city will implement Phases 3 and 4 of the state’s reopening plan, permitting all businesses, houses of worship, libraries, museums, recreational facilities and sports facilities to reopen. The decision will put an end to the complex and rapidly changing set of local mandates that left even some city officials uncertain of just what was permitted and what was not.

“As soon as we can match up with the state’s guidelines and mandates, the less time we’ll have to spend explaining that there’s a difference and why there’s a difference,” said Councilman David Allison, who previously criticized the gradual pace of local reopening.

The decision to reopen was also supported by Dr. Hannah Sanders, medical director for Cordova Community Medical Center. Epidemiologic data suggest that Cordova is now prepared to realign its policies with those of the state, Sanders said. However, in a Tuesday, May 25 letter to city council, Sanders emphasized the importance of continued social distancing and mask-wearing to mitigate the risk of coronavirus transmission as seasonal workers continue arriving in the community.

The reopening was originally proposed to take effect Monday, June 1. However, city council voted unanimously to amend the resolution to implement the plan more rapidly.

Under Phase 4 of the state’s reopening plan, travelers arriving from out of state are still required to self-quarantine for 14 days. Organizers of large public gatherings such as festivals are also required to consult with public health officials before going ahead, according to a release from the state.

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The city’s Temporary Emergency COVID-19 Rules will remain in place until they are repealed by city council or the city manager, or until the declared state of emergency is repealed, according to a release by the city. These rules authorize city council to carry out its meetings electronically, require local businesses to file coronavirus safety agreements and otherwise adjust the operations of local business and government during the pandemic.

If Cordova’s public health situation deteriorates in the future, the city will be prepared to respond, said Police and Fire Chief Mike Hicks.

From left, Cordova Community Medical Center Authority Board Chairman Greg Meyer, City Manager Helen Howarth, City Councilwoman Melina Meyer and Mayor Clay Koplin at Cordova Community Medical Center. (May 13, 2020) Photo by Zachary Snowdon Smith/The Cordova Times

Masks still required

City council revised, but did not repeal, an emergency rule requiring community members to wear facial coverings in public settings. According to the revised rule, individuals must still wear a protective face covering when it’s not possible to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from non-household members. However, an explicit exception was created for individuals receiving “lawful services” that would be impeded by wearing a mask.

An exception was also added allowing individuals to remove their masks to eat and drink. This amendment resolved a paradoxical set of rules that ostensibly permitted restaurants to reopen, but did not permit patrons to remove their masks.

At the May 27 meeting, Councilman Tom Bailer questioned whether rules requiring the public to wear masks were enforceable.

“How are you going to prove it, when you go to court?” Bailer asked Hicks. “To me, it’s going to be a really, really hard one to enforce… Are you going to take pictures? Are you going to have a tape measure?”

Although breaking local coronavirus mandates can incur a fine of up to $500, law enforcement prefers to educate members of the public rather than immediately taking a punitive approach, Hicks said. The emergency rule requiring the public to wear masks is legally enforceable, City Manager Helen Howarth said.

“Most people are trying to do the right thing,” Hicks said. “You want to make sure that, if you are going to cite somebody, that it’s a solid reason, just like anything else. Sometimes, tie goes to the runner, and you’ve got to give the person the benefit of the doubt.”

An Ocean Beauty Seafoods cannery employee who tested positive for the coronavirus May 1 remains Cordova’s only confirmed case. (May 18, 2020) Photo by Zachary Snowdon Smith/The Cordova Times

Cannery worker apparently still quarantined

An Ocean Beauty Seafoods cannery worker who tested positive for the coronavirus May 1 is apparently still under quarantine. In order to be released from quarantine, an infected person must return a negative test result, and then return a second negative test result 24 hours later, Sanders said. The exact status of the coronavirus-positive individual was not publicly available as of May 27, Sanders said.

As of May 27, 420 coronavirus tests have been conducted in Cordova, according to data released by the city. Of those tests, 415 have been negative, one has been positive and four are awaiting results. Community health care providers currently have the capacity to perform 1,100 tests.

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