The Soldotna Public Library, Soldotna Regional Sports Complex and other city buildings will require face masks starting Monday morning, as COVID-19 case counts continue to climb locally.
The Soldotna City Council voted Wednesday to require face coverings in city buildings when one of two conditions is met: either more than eight percent of COVID-19 tests in the area are positive, or there have been more than 50 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days.
As of Friday, both metrics are met. The Central Peninsula has seen over 370 cases per 100,000 people in the last week and the seven-day positivity rate for the Kenai Peninsula Borough is nearly 13 percent.
Councilmembers Justin Ruffridge and Dave Carey sponsored the legislation. In it, they cite recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike wear masks indoors in communities where there’s a high rate of COVID-19 spread.
The new rule applies to public spaces in the library, sports center and city hall. Portions of the Soldotna Police Department, Maintenance Shop and Wastewater Treatment Plant are also included.
