The Juneau Assembly will consider whether or not to moderate Governor Mike Dunleavy’s plan to “Reopen Alaska” during its Regular Assembly Meeting on Monday, April 27, at 7 p.m. The Assembly encourages Juneau businesses and organizations listed in State Health Mandate 16 to wait for the outcome of Monday night’s meeting before committing to reopening.

The Assembly also encourages the public to weigh in on State Health Mandate 16 (read it here) by emailing comments to [email protected]. The mandate allows certain businesses – like restaurants, retail shops, personal services, public and non-public facing businesses, fishing charters, childcare and days camps, and gyms – to reopen starting April 24 on a limited basis under certain conditions and guidance. Each type of business has its own requirements for reopening (read them here). Most require universal face covering, social distancing, and cleaning protocols.

Cumulatively, 27 people in Juneau have gotten sick from COVID-19 since March 10; at least 18 have recovered. Five cases are a result of community transmission, 21 individuals got sick after being in close contact with someone else who had tested positive for COVID-19, and one person got the virus while traveling outside Alaska in a location with known COVID-19 cases. Additionally, of those 27 cumulative cases, seven are considered “a pocket,” all employees at Lemon Creek Correctional Center.

The Assembly thanks the community for keeping Juneau safe and slowing the spread of COVID-19. Juneau residents should continue to follow public health guidance regarding handwashing, staying 6 feet apart from others, staying home as much as possible, avoiding touching your face, and using a cloth face covering. Any type of economy reopening is contingent upon the community maintaining its vigilance.

If you have new symptoms, even mild ones, contact your health care provider or call the local COVID-19 Screening Hotline at 586-6000 daily, noon to 6 p.m. Testing will be arranged if appropriate. Symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, chills, difficulty breathing, diminished sense of taste or smell, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, headache, muscle/joint aches, nausea, rash, chills with shivering, runny nose, sore throat, or increased phlegm production.

For more local news, information, and resources to help keep Juneau safe and healthy, go to juneau.org/covid-19 and Bartlett Hospital’s COVID-19 page.

The Juneau Assembly strongly urges the use of cloth face coverings – or a similar physical barrier – for any businesses with employees that interact with the public, especially grocery stores, gas stations, and retail stores. Likewise, the Assembly is strongly encouraging customers and visitors entering into a business or organization to wear a cloth face covering. These recommendations, adopted in a resolution April 20, are in line with federal and state guidelines. Learn how to make your own mask at home without a sewing machine here. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offers sew and no sew options.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can spread from a person before they have symptoms. CDC advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus, especially in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, like at grocery stores and pharmacies.

A cloth face covering needs to cover the nose and mouth. It can be made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk, or linen. A cloth face covering may be factory-made, sewn by hand, or improvised from household items such as scarfs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels. Do not wear N-95 or surgical masks; these are needed by health care workers and first responders.

When removing the face covering, avoid touching the front of the face covering. Remove it by grasping the ear loops, ties, or bands and immediately discard or place in a designated container for laundering. Wash your hands immediately after removing the face covering and before touching anything else. Wash face coverings in hot, soapy water between uses.

In Health Alert 10, the State of Alaska cautions against relying on face coverings as the primary way to prevent COVID-19 transmission, and to be careful to avoid developing a false sense of security through the use of face coverings. Continue to follow social distancing measures including maintaining at least six feet between yourself and others, staying at home as much as possible, avoiding touching your face, and washing your hands frequently.

Read the Juneau Assembly resolution on cloth face coverings here.

For more local news, information, and resources to help keep Juneau safe and healthy, go to juneau.org/covid-19 and Bartlett Hospital’s COVID-19 page.