When the Alaska State Legislature convenes in mid-January, lawmakers will be wearing masks — or they’ll be doing the business of the people from their office.<\/p>\n
“We’re just trying to make it as safe as possible. I have been surprised to learn how many of our employees as well as legislators have underlying health issues,” said Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak and chair of the Legislative Council, in a phone interview. “It’s a serious issue, wearing a mask. There are people who disagree with that, but this is now our policy.”<\/p>\n
The council met electronically on Monday to set out rules and guidelines for the upcoming session, assisted by the state’s chief medical officer Dr. Anne Zink. The council voted the Safe Floor Session Policy and its enforcement policy in identical 11-1 votes, with Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, being the sole opposed vote in each case. This will remain the policy unless a future Legislative Council changes it, Stevens said.<\/p>\n
“Safe or not safe is always a continuum,” Zink said. “It is by far the clinical consensus at this time that wearing a mask prevents you from spreading or getting the virus that carries COVID-19.”<\/p>\n
Measures lined out in the policy include forbidding congregating, remaining seated when speaking, plexiglass dividers being put in place and barring the media from the chambers or galleries to mitigate possible spread of disease.<\/p>\n