COVID19 – Page 48 – City and Borough of Juneau

For vaxxed & unvaxxed, if you’re feeling ill, get tested for COVID-19

COVID-19 testing remains an important tool in slowing the spread of COVID-19. If you’re feeling even mildly ill with new symptoms like fatigue, chills, cough, fever, or decreased sense of taste or smell, contact your health care provider or call Juneau’s COVID-19 Screening Hotline at 586-6000 daily, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to schedule a free COVID-19 test at CBJ’s Drive-Thru testing facility. You can also register online here. Getting tested if you’re feeling ill is recommended for everyone – vaccinated and unvaccinated.

CBJ’s Drive-Thru testing facility is located at Hagevig Fire Training Center on 2601 Sherwood Lane. Tests are processed at Bartlett Regional Hospital and results are expected within 24 hours.

Please note: The online registration system will only allow you to pick a date for the test. After you complete the form, a COVID-19 Hotline staff member will call you to confirm a time. You can find the online registration link on the bottom of juneau.org/covid19.

July 15th, 2021|

CBJ urges airport testing if you’re unvaccinated & traveling back from Sitka, Anchorage or Kenai

Statewide COVID-19 cases have been increasing in recent weeks, particularly in Sitka, Anchorage, and the Kenai Peninsula. The City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center strongly recommends unvaccinated individuals who’ve traveled to these communities to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival at the Juneau airport. Unvaccinated travelers who’ve returned from these communities in the past week and did not test at the airport are strongly recommended to arrange testing now by contacting a local health provider or the COVID-19 Hotline at 586-6000.

“Although things are starting to feel back to normal, we are still in a pandemic and we need to take precautions when it makes sense. With communities in Alaska experiencing an uptick in cases, let’s make sure we’re doing everything we can to stop it from spreading to Juneau. If you’re not fully vaccinated, and have recently traveled to or due to return from Anchorage, Sitka, or the Kenai, please get tested,” EOC Incident Commander and Deputy City Manager Mila Cosgrove said. “Juneau’s community risk level is currently at Level 1B Minimal; let’s keep it that low.”

As of 5 p.m. July 14, Sitka had 86 active cases of COVID-19, many of which are attributed to community spread. The City of Sitka’s Risk Level is High with restrictions on gathering size, social distancing, and restaurant and bar capacity. Sitka’s EOC strongly encourages residents, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask in public. Within the past week, two Juneau residents who tested positive for COVID-19 had spent time in Sitka.

Vaccination continues to be the single most effective COVID-19 prevention measure. If you’re not yet vaccinated against COVID-19, there are many opportunities to get a vaccine. Find availability at juneau.org/vaccine or call 586-6000.

For more information, contact the City Manager’s Office at 586-5240 or email [email protected].

July 15th, 2021|

COVID-19 update on American Cruise Lines ship in Juneau

The cluster of COVID-19 cases associated with American Cruise Lines is currently at 10 individuals – four who are isolating in Petersburg and six who are isolating in Juneau. Of the people in Juneau, all are quarantining or isolating in accordance with Public Health direction since the ship arrived in Juneau early Saturday morning. Public Health says the potential risk of exposure to the public is low.

By last Friday, July 9, three people on the Constellation, which was in Petersburg at the time, had tested positive for COVID-19, two of whom were fully vaccinated individuals. Those three individuals and their close contacts stayed in Petersburg. The rest of the 162 fully vaccinated guests and 52 crew members – some fully vaccinated, some not – returned to Juneau. Once here, guests traveled home while crew remained on the boat.

Since Friday, seven additional people from the Constellation have tested positive for COVID-19. A few received positive tests while still in Petersburg; others received positive results in Juneau. While six in the cluster are presently in Juneau, only four received positive test results in Juneau and are included in Juneau case counts. Individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 isolate for 10 days; close contacts quarantine for 14 days.

The City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operation Center – in coordination with the Alaska Department of Health & Social Services and Juneau Public Health – has been working closely with American Cruise Lines. The EOC will be conducting another round of testing tomorrow of the 43 individuals currently on board.

Again, the potential risk of exposure to the public is low. The ship will remain docked in Juneau into next week.

For more information, contact the City Manager’s Office at 586-5240 or email [email protected].

July 14th, 2021|

CBJ reports nine new COVID-19 cases in Juneau July 13 & 14

The City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center reports nine new individuals – four residents and five nonresidents – identified with COVID-19 in Juneau for July 13 and 14. Of the resident cases, Public Health attributes one to community spread and three to secondary transmission. Of the nonresident cases, three are in the tourism sector and two are visitors.

Four nonresidents – three reported today and one reported on Monday – are part of a cluster associated with the American Cruise Lines ship Constellation. That cluster total is currently at 10 individuals – four who are isolating in Petersburg and six who are isolating in Juneau. While six are presently in Juneau, only four received positive test results in Juneau and are included in Juneau case counts.

Cumulatively, Juneau has had 1,398 residents test positive for COVID-19 and 178 nonresidents. There are 15 active cases in Juneau and 1,556 individuals have recovered. All individuals with active cases of COVID-19 are in isolation.

Statewide, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reports 247 new people identified with COVID-19 in the past two days – 235 are residents and 12 are nonresidents. Alaska has had 69,187 cumulative resident cases of COVID-19 and a total of 2,966 nonresidents.

July 14th, 2021|

The pandemic has taken a heavy emotional toll. If you find yourself struggling, there are resources.

Thank you, Juneau, for helping to slow the spread of COVID-19. It’s been a rough 16 months and we’re on the upswing. But many are still feeling the mental effects of the past difficult months. A third of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 in the U.S. were diagnosed with a neurological or psychiatric disorder, and 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety and depression in the past year. The pandemic has taken a heavy emotional toll on all of us.

If you find yourself struggling, you are not alone. Your mental health matters; please consider reaching out to one of these resources that can help get you through:

Bartlett Regional Hospital offers both inpatient and outpatient mental health services bartletthospital.org/services/mental-health-unit. For immediate care, the Emergency Department at Bartlett is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 796-8427.
NAMI Juneau (National Alliance on Mental Illness) provides quality education, support, and advocacy to help individuals and families affected by mental illness build better lives. Call 463-4251 or go to namijuneau.org.
JAHMI Health & Wellness provides mental health treatment services, including 24/7 crisis response. Call 463-3303 or go to jamhihealthandwellness.org.
Juneau Mental Health website offers the Juneau Mental Health Directory, including a list of private psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists. Go to juneaumentalhealth.org.

Resources specifically for youth and teens:

Zach Gordon Youth Center serves as a home away from home for youth, offering a number of drop-in services, programs for youth and teens, and family support services. Call 586-2635.
Juneau Youth Services is a comprehensive behavioral health provider for children and youth, and their families. Call 789-7610 or go to jys.org.
Teen Health Center offers convenient, confidential, and free health services, including behavioral health counseling. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and school closure, virtual appointments and limited offsite services at Zach Gordon Youth Center are available. Call 523-1634 to schedule an appointment. Counselors are available to meet by text, phone, or zoom. juneauteenhealthcenter.weebly.com.
Juneau Mental Health website offers the Juneau Mental Health Directory, including a list of private psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists who offer services for youth. Go to juneaumentalhealth.org.

Crisis helplines:

JAMHI 463-3303 or 855-463-3303 Connect with an Emergency Services Clinician; JAMHI provides 24/7 on-call response with immediate screening and crisis intervention for mental health emergencies.
SEARHC Helpline 1-877-294-0074 Available 24/7 to residents of Southeast Alaska
Bartlett Regional Hospital Emergency Department 796-8427 Available 24/7
AWARE 586-1090 or 1-800-478-1090 A 24/7 confidential crisis line
Alaska Careline 1-877-266-4357 or text 4help to 839863
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 Provides 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

July 14th, 2021|