CBJ reports 27 new COVID-19 cases & one death for Aug. 19

The City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center reports 27 new individuals – 22 residents and five nonresidents – identified with COVID-19 for August 19. CBJ also reports one new death in Juneau. The individual – a male Juneau resident in his 50s – died at Bartlett Regional Hospital Wednesday afternoon, August 18, due to COVID-19. CBJ extends condolences to family members and friends of this individual.

Juneau has had eight COVID-19 deaths total since the start of the pandemic, two of which occurred outside of Alaska. CBJ is reporting this new death based on hospital reporting ahead of it being posted on the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services dashboard.

Of the 22 new resident cases, Public Health attributes six to secondary transmission, three to community spread, and the rest are under investigation. Of the five nonresidents, four are in the mining sector (acquisition unknown) and one is in tourism sector (community spread). The cluster associated with an out-of-town youth sports event remains at 22 cases – four are active, 18 are recovered.

For August 18 and 19, the Juneau School District reports nine individuals who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and were infectious while in school – three at Auke Bay Elementary, one at Harborview Elementary, one at Sayeik: Gastineau Elementary, one at Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ Glacier Valley Elementary, and three at Thunder Mountain High School. COVID-19 cases related to schools are posted on the district website as they are reported.

The proper Public Health and JSD protocols are being followed to isolate individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and identify close contacts. Contact tracing is taking place. Those who may have been exposed in the schools are directly contacted and given instructions to quarantine and/or test. Individuals who are not identified as a close contact do not need to quarantine or be tested at this time. Currently, two classrooms are closed (one at Harborview and one at Auke Bay); otherwise classes are operating on regular schedules. Find more district related COVID-19 information at juneauschools.org.

Cumulatively, Juneau has had 1,871 residents test positive for COVID-19 and 227 nonresidents. There are 186 active cases and 1,904 individuals have recovered. All individuals with active cases of COVID-19 are in isolation. There are currently four people with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital.

Statewide, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reports 686 new people identified with COVID-19 – 631 are residents and 55 are nonresidents. Alaska has had 79,038 cumulative resident cases of COVID-19 and a total of 3,649 nonresidents.