Juneau Public Health & Juneau Police Department are new COVID-19 self-test distribution sites

The City and Borough of Juneau has added the Juneau Public Health Center and Juneau Police Department as public distribution sites for free COVID-19 self-tests. You can use these rapid antigen tests regardless of vaccination status, or whether or not you have symptoms. The test can be self-administered from home, or wherever, and returns results in 15 minutes. Here’s the current list of free self-test distribution sites:

• City Hall Cash Office
• All Juneau Public Libraries (Downtown, Mendenhall Valley, and Douglas)
• Juneau Public Health Center, 3412 Glacier Highway (across the street from Twin Lakes parking lot)
• Juneau Police Department, 6255 Alaway Avenue

At this time, the public can pick up two tests per family. The goal of the distribution is for families to have self-tests on reserve for when one might be needed. Do not go into any of these facilities to pick up self-tests if you’re feeling sick.

Here are reasons to use a self-test:

• You’re experiencing new symptoms of COVID-19.
• You’ve recently been in close contact with someone who tested positive.
• Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household.

Currently, CBJ is distributing the QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test. Here’s an instructional video on how to use this particular test. These self-tests are rapid antigen tests, which – while not as sensitive as PCR tests – can detect COVID-19 when it becomes transmissible.

While positive results are not counted in Alaska Department of Health & Social Services COVID-19 numbers, CBJ asks Juneau residents to report positive self-test results to Public Health (907-465-3353) to learn about possible treatment options or any other appropriate medical follow-up.

Please note: In light of the COVID-19 variant, Omicron, if you’ve recently traveled, please take the free COVID-19 molecular test that’s offered at the Juneau International Airport upon arrival. Similarly, if you’ve recently traveled and test positive on an antigen self-test, please take a follow-up molecular test at a local health provider or CBJ’s drive-thru testing site (register online or call 907-586-6000). Positive molecular test results from the airport or other facilities are sent to the State Public Health Lab for potential sequencing.

The Juneau School District also has a supply of COVID-19 self-tests. Read about the district’s Test to Stay Program protocols here.

Public Health has more guidance for rapid antigen COVID-19 self-tests here that will be handed out with the tests, or go to CBJ’s webpage.

For more information, contact CBJ Emergency Operations Center Incident Commander and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr at 907-586-5240 or [email protected], or email [email protected].