The City and Borough of Juneau conducted a community-wide survey in order to gauge attitudes toward getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The survey yielded 2,444 responses between March 23 and April 11. It asked respondents to answer whether they had received the COVID-19 vaccine; whether or not unvaccinated respondents wanted to receive a COVID-19 vaccine; the reasons for not getting, delaying, and accessibility to get a COVID-19 vaccine; and a few demographic questions. Overall, results from the survey are in line with data that is being collected all over the country. Read the full report on the survey results here.

COVID-19 vaccinations are an important tool in ending the pandemic, as well as the safest way to protect the community from getting COVID-19. CBJ crafted this survey to find out which concerns and questions about vaccination were important within the community.

Of the respondents who had not received a COVID-19 vaccine, a significant majority either did not want to or were unsure about getting the vaccine. The biggest reasons were:

• concerns about the safety of the vaccine;
• concerns about the side effects of the vaccine; and
• belief that the risks outweigh the benefits of the vaccine.

The majority of respondents who do not want to get the vaccine said nothing would change their mind. In the respondents who were unsure about getting the vaccine, the majority wanted to know if it was safe, and wanted more time to have data collected. When asked about what kind of accessibility issues were preventing them from receiving the vaccine, nearly all respondents had no barriers.

Read the full report on the survey results here.

CBJ appreciates everyone who took the time and effort to complete the survey – thank you. Survey results are another tool CBJ and the Emergency Operations Center can use as it continues to communicate about the COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information, contact Deputy City Manager Mila Cosgrove at 586-5240.

(Photo by Kayti Coonjohn on Unsplash)

The Juneau Assembly reestablished the City and Borough of Juneau’s COVID-19 Risk Metrics & Mitigation Strategies in an Emergency Ordinance Monday night. The updated mitigation strategies reflect the community’s progress in getting COVID-19 vaccinations. Currently, the overall community risk is Level 1a – Minimal. Read the COVID-19 Risk Metrics & Mitigation Strategies here.

Level 1 is now broken up into three sub-levels depending on what percentage of Juneau’s total population has completed its vaccine series; the more people vaccinated, the more relaxed the restrictions:

• Level 1a reflects less than 50 percent is fully vaccinated
• Level 1b reflects 50 – 69.9 percent is fully vaccinated
• Level 1c reflect more than 70 percent is fully vaccinated

The emergency ordinance also includes rules and guidance around masking and travel testing. Following Assembly action Monday night, the following mitigation strategies and guidelines are currently in place:

• Masks/Social Distance: Masks must be worn indoors in public areas. Vaccinated individuals must wear masks outdoors during crowded events (e.g. live performance, parade, sports event) and unvaccinated individuals must wear masks outdoors when 6 feet of distance can’t be maintained.
• Large Gatherings: Indoor gatherings are limited to 100 people with safety measures (masks and appropriate social distancing required), unless a COVID-19 mitigation plan is submitted and approved by the CBJ Emergency Operations Center. Outdoor gatherings are recommended.
• Restaurants and Bars: Maintain 6 feet distance between parties/tables and wear a mask unless actively eating or drinking.
• Personal Services and Gyms: Masks must be worn indoors in public areas.
• Travel: Follow State Health Advisories. Anyone entering Alaska from another state or country is advised (but not required) to submit an Alaska Safe Travels form and either arrive with proof of a negative COVID-19 test or receive a free COVID-19 test at the airport when you arrive and follow strict social distancing until you get results.

If daily case count levels stay at the minimal level, the overall community risk level is anticipated to move to Level 1b on May 12. At that point, there would be no size limits or required safety measures for large gatherings, personal services, or gyms if all individuals present are fully vaccinated.

The Emergency Operations Center will continue to monitor recommendations from the CDC and revise mitigation measures as appropriate. The emergency ordinance setting these rules is set to expire July 31 unless the Juneau Assembly extends it.

For more information, email [email protected].

Over the 14-day period from April 12 to April 25, there were 38 people in Juneau who tested positive for COVID-19 (that’s down from 50 during the previous two weeks):

• 24 percent of the cases were associated with a cluster activity. One cluster, a small daycare, had 10 positive cases; all have recovered and Public Health has closed that cluster. The second cluster is associated with Thunder Mountain High School; that cluster is at eight positive cases with two recovered.
• Public Health attributed 34 percent of cases to secondary transmission, 24 percent to community spread, 18 percent to out-of-state travel, and 24 percent of the cases remain under investigation.
• 90 percent of cases were contacted for contact tracing within 24 hours of a positive test being returned. Public Health anticipates this is a temporary reduction due to statewide numbers increasing.
• Disease spread was across all age groups, various racial groups (the category of individuals who self-identify as white is highest with 22), and was more prevalent in males than females (71 percent/29 percent).

The community continues to see COVID-19 transmit via community spread, secondary infection, and travel. A variant of concern (UK/B1.1.7) has been identified in Juneau. Residents are cautioned to continue strict adherence to masking and social distancing when outside your immediate home.

Vaccine update:

• 58.8 percent of the total population of Juneau has received at least 1 dose of vaccine and 49.5 percent has completed the vaccine series.
• 72.8 percent of the Juneau population age 16 and above have received at least one dose of vaccine and 61.4 percent of the age eligible population has completed the vaccine series.
• 93.5 percent of the population in Juneau age 65+ has received at least one dose of vaccine and 88.4 percent has completed the vaccine series.

Read the full Emergency Operations Center Report, which included this weekly recap, as well as other reports here.