Mat-Su Borough extends closure of public buildings. Services continue to operate

The Mat-Su Borough is extending its closure of public buildings through the middle of next month.

At a press conference on Monday morning, Mat-Su Borough Manager John Moosey announced that public facilities including sports venues, libraries, and borough offices will be closed to the public through at least April 15th.  Earlier this month, the borough closed buildings to the public through the end of March.  Some meetings will continue, including the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting scheduled for April 7th.  That meeting will be conducted using online resources.

In addition to the extended closure, Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services Director Ken Barkley says the borough has activated its own emergency operation center in response to the spread of COVID-19.  He says responders are still working, and emergency call volume has not exceeded his department’s staffing.  Barkley says drive-through testing for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 through Capstone Clinic, which is reachable at 864-4642.

Mat-Su Borough Mayor Vern Halter says borough services are continuing during the “hunkering down” process, and aimed to reassure borough residents by noting that shipments of goods into the state are continuing. Mayor Halter says COVID-19 will be part of life for the borough for months, and he urges Mat-Su residents to continue practicing social distancing.

The borough’s press conference follows the first two cases of COVID-19 in the Mat-Su being confirmed on Sunday.