The City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is reducing the overall community risk to Level 1 Minimal. At Minimal, wearing a mask is recommended in indoor public areas – particularly for those who are immunocompromised or live with people at high risk for severe illness – but there is no masking requirement. For now, masking remains required in CBJ facilities while internal policies are under review; a modification to this requirement is expected later this week.

Exemption requests for large indoor gatherings are not required at Minimal. Event planners are welcome to contact the EOC regarding COVID best practices by emailing [email protected].

Read CBJ’s COVID-19 Risk Metrics and Mitigation Strategies here for more details. Free COVID self-tests and KN95 masks are widely available throughout the community. High quality masks, like KN95s, are effective at protecting you.

The change in community risk level is due to improving risk indicators across the board, including a declining number of COVID-19 cases in Juneau, stable hospital capacity, high community vaccination rates, and the availability of high quality masks, tests, and therapeutics to prevent and treat COVID-19. This change puts CBJ in line with new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to CDC, Juneau is at a Medium COVID-19 Community Level. At this level, CDC recommends:

• If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Go to juneau.org/vaccine to find a vaccine provider in Juneau.
• Get tested if you have symptoms

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].

The City and Borough of Juneau’s COVID-19 hotline and drive-thru testing facility will be closed on Wednesday and Sunday starting the week of February 28. To schedule a COVID-19 molecular test and get results within 24 hours, register online or call the COVID-19 hotline at 907-586-6000 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

CBJ’s Emergency Operation Center implemented the drive-thru testing site and the hotline in March 2020 and both have consistently been operating seven days a week. Scaling down operations to 5 days a week starting the week of February 28 is due to lower demand for testing, wider availability of rapid antigen testing, and the eventual need to shift COVID testing away from an emergency model. CBJ’s Emergency Operations Center anticipates continuing to scale back operations at its drive-thru testing site and hotline over the coming months. Ideally, COVID testing will become a standard of care at health providers or clinics that provide diagnostic testing.

Juneau’s COVID-19 drive-thru testing facility is located at the Hagevig Fire Training Center (2601 Sherwood Lane) and is operated by Capital City Fire/Rescue staff. Tests are collected at the drive-thru facility and sent to Bartlett Regional Hospital to be analyzed.

OTHER TESTING NEWS

Capstone Clinic’s private COVID-19 testing site has moved to the Mendenhall Mall. Hours for this location are Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The testing site offers testing to all individuals:

• Asymptomatic individuals are welcome to test inside – enter through the main mall door to the left of NAO and immediately turn right in the foyer, then walk down a short hallway, and turn left where a big testing station floor sign is located. When in doubt, look for the Capstone Clinic signs.
• Symptomatic individuals are asked to stay in their vehicle, call 907-694-9523 option 2, and someone will come outside to administer the test.

Capstone will collect insurance information if available; no costs are passed on to the patient. Results are returned within 2-3 days.

Testing is also available at SEARHC Ethel Lund Medical Center, SEARHC Mountainside Urgent Care, Juneau Urgent & Family Care, and private providers around town.

For more information on CBJ’s COVID-19 testing site and hotline, call 907-586-6000 or email [email protected]. For more information on Capstone Clinic testing, call 907-694-9523 option 2.

Due to sustained declines in COVID-19 cases in Juneau, improvements in workforce capacity, and the increasing availability of therapeutics to treat high-risk cases of COVID-19, the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is reducing the overall community risk to Level 2 Moderate. At Moderate, the mask requirement changes. Juneau has been at the Modified High level since January 3.

This community mitigation measure on masking is effective immediately:

• If you’re not fully vaccinated, you must wear a mask or face covering in indoor public areas and crowded outdoor events, like a live performance, parade, sports event. If you are fully vaccinated, masking is highly recommended in indoor public areas. (Fully vaccinated is defined as 2 weeks after an initial 2-dose Moderna/Pfizer series or initial 1-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.)
• Businesses and organizations may choose to require masking in their facilities. Masking remains required in CBJ facilities.

Here are the other mitigation measures at the Moderate community risk level, effective immediately:

• Indoor gatherings must be limited to 50% of indoor capacity or 50 people, whichever is greater, and include safety measures. There are no size limits if all individuals at the gathering are fully vaccinated. Outdoor gatherings are recommended.
• ​Restaurants are recommended to ensure distancing between parties. Patrons who are not fully vaccinated must wear masks when not actively eating or drinking
• Bars cannot exceed 50 percent capacity. Patrons who are not fully vaccinated must wear masks when not actively eating or drinking
• Personal services are by appointment only; waiting areas at 50 percent capacity.
• Gyms are limited to 50 percent capacity. Indoor classes are limited only to fully vaccinated individuals.

Read CBJ’s COVID-19 Risk Metrics and Mitigation Strategies here for more details.

In accordance with CDC guidance, the EOC urges residents ages 12 and up to get a booster. Go to juneau.org/vaccine or call 907-586-6000 to find availability.

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].