Juneau’s community risk level lowers to Minimal

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:

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].

February 28th, 2022|

Free KN95 masks available in more locations around town

Free KN95 masks are now more widely available in Juneau. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services sent more masks to Juneau, and they’re being distributed by the Juneau Public Health Center and the City and Borough of Juneau. Pick up a free box of KN95 masks at the following locations while supplies last:

  • 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

The current overall COVID-19 community risk level is Level 2 Moderate. At this level, individuals who are not fully vaccinated must wear a mask or face covering in indoor public areas and crowded outdoor events; and fully vaccinated individuals are highly recommended to wear a mask in indoor public areas. Masking remains required in CBJ facilities regardless of vaccination status, and businesses and organizations may choose to also require masking in their facilities.

CBJ is still distributing free rapid antigen COVID-19 self-tests at the above-specified locations. The tests can be self-administered at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and return results in 10-15 minutes. CBJ is currently distributing the CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test, which expires on June 30, 2022, despite what the printed sticker indicates.

Please do not go into any CBJ facility if you’re feeling sick, or if you’ve been identified as a close contact and should be quarantining. If you’re feeling sick, schedule an appointment at CBJ’s drive-thru testing facility online or call 907-586-6000.

For more information, email [email protected].

February 24th, 2022|

CBJ’s COVID-19 hotline & drive-thru testing site to operate 5 days a week starting Feb. 28

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.

February 23rd, 2022|

City Manager proposes how to spend cruise ship passenger fees. Submit comments on recommendations by March 4.

The public has until March 4 to comment on the City Manager’s recommendations for how to allocate cruise ship Marine Passenger Fee (MPF) proceeds. Read the draft proposal here. Read a new memo with supplemental information on the dock electrification item here.

The Manager’s draft proposal makes recommendations on expenditure of funds that come from the $5 City and Borough of Juneau Marine Passenger Fee, $3 CBJ Port Development Fee, and the $5 State of Alaska Commercial Passenger Vessel Fee. For budgeting purposes, CBJ has estimated that about 1 million passengers will come to Juneau this year. Based on that projection, the amount of revenue in fiscal year 2023 is anticipated to be roughly $13.8 million.

In December, CBJ solicited project proposals from city departments and the public, including businesses and the visitor industry, to be funded with MPF proceeds. The City Manager is recommending 15 operating, grant and capital funding allocations. They include:

  • funding for dock electrification, including design funding and a transformer that will allow multiple ships to connect to shore power once available (read the new memo that provides more information on this item)
  • funding for a study on a circulator shuttle bus service
  • a Seawalk expansion
  • refillable water bottle stations in Downtown Juneau

CBJ is also carrying a negative fund balance of $3.2 million into fiscal year 2023, which was caused by the need to continue essential services during the reduced visitor season in 2021. The Manager’s proposal would eliminate this negative balance.

Submit comments on the recommendations by March 4, 2022 to CBJ Tourism Manager Alexandra Pierce by email, [email protected], or by mail to the City Manager’s Office, attn: Alexandra Pierce, 155 S. Seward Street, Juneau, Alaska 99801.

All Marine Passenger Fee project proposals and comments will be forwarded along with the City Manager’s recommendation list to the Assembly Finance Committee for review, and then to the Assembly for consideration during the upcoming budget cycle.

For more information, contact CBJ Tourism Manager Alexandra Pierce at [email protected] or 907-500-8677.

February 17th, 2022|
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