Anchorage has stopped dining in at restaurants and closed bars, but the Mat-Su Borough cannot

Beginning at 5:00 pm yesterday, dine-in services at restaurants and service at bars in Anchorage was suspended until April 1^st.

Following that announcement, questions have emerged as to whether similar measures will be taken by the Mat-Su Borough.  In a Monday evening press release, borough officials stated that the Mat-Su does not have the powers to stop service at bars and restaurants. Mat-Su Borough Public Affairs Director Stefan Hinman writes:

“The Mat-Su Borough is a second-class borough, and as such,  has no health powers or authority to do this.”

The press release concludes by saying that borough officials are taking steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through the means legally available to it.