Mat-Su Borough holds official COVID-19 update for March 26th

On Thursday, officials from various offices within the Mat-Su Borough provided updates on services and the status of the spread of COVID-19.

As of the press conference late Thursday morning, there were two confirmed cases in the Valley with multiple tests pending.  Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services Director Ken Barkley says borough residents should expect that number to rise in the future.

“We will have more cases in the Mat-Su Borough.  It’s just a matter of time.”

Barkley says his department is continuing to respond to calls, and responders are being screened each day for signs of infection.  In addition, Barkley says one effect of many businesses closing is that there are actually more on-call responders available at certain times.

“We actually have a few more responders available right now, because most of our staff are on-call responders and are out of work right now, so they’re available when they normally wouldn’t be in the daytime.”

A persistent question in the current environment of social distancing is whether cities and the Mat-Su Borough will force business closures.  Borough Mayor Vern Halter reiterated that the Mat-Su does not have health powers, and so cannot force businesses to close.  Cities like Wasilla and Palmer have more latitude to make those decisions, but the mayors of both cities say there are currently no plans to force additional business closures.

As May approaches, another question that has come up is what will happen with high school graduation.   Superintendent Monica Goyette says adjustments are being made to graduation requirements in light of the extended statewide school closure, and that graduation ceremonies will be held online at the date and time they were originally scheduled.