In its COVID-19 data summary, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is not reporting any new COVID-19 cases for Juneau for November 17. While case numbers have been declining in recent weeks, there’s been a technical issue in DHSS receiving lab results from Bartlett Regional Hospital. According to Juneau Public Health, the issue has contributed to about 30 unreported cases between November 9 and November 16. During this timeframe, Juneau Public Health received BRH molecular lab results. However, the DHSS technical issue temporarily affected how it received that data from BRH.

BRH’s lab processes tests from the City and Borough of Juneau’s Drive-Thru testing facility and tests done at BRH. The City and Borough of Juneau anticipates the issue resolving in the near future and DHSS including the unreported cases in future data summaries. Even with the unreported cases, Juneau has still been seeing a sustained decline in case rate and test positivity.

There are currently three people with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital. No one from the Juneau School District has tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday.

Statewide, DHSS reports 427 new people identified with COVID-19 – 423 are residents and four are nonresidents. The state also reports two additional deaths bringing the total number of resident deaths to 812:

• Female Fairbanks resident in her 60s
• Male Wasilla resident in his 40s

Alaska has had 141,686 cumulative resident cases of COVID-19 and a total of 5,354 nonresidents.

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports two new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 16. DHSS also reports one additional death of a Juneau resident due to COVID-19. A male Juneau resident in his 20s died last week in Anchorage after being medevacked there. CBJ extends condolences to family members and friends of this individual. There are 17 total deaths associated with Juneau – 16 residents (three died out of state) and one nonresident (individual was diagnosed with COVID-19 in Juneau but death occurred outside Juneau). There are currently three people with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital.

The Juneau School District reports one new individual at Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ – Glacier Valley School who’s tested positive for COVID-19 and was infectious while in school. Please note: Entire classrooms are no longer being quarantined. Instead, the availability of at-home, rapid antigen COVID-19 tests now provides unvaccinated close contacts with two options: test daily to stay in school or quarantine. COVID-19 cases related to schools are posted on juneauschools.org (click on the green “COVID-19 Cases” block).

Statewide, DHSS reports 362 new people identified with COVID-19 – 356 are residents and six are nonresidents. The state also reports seven recent deaths bringing the total number of resident deaths to 810:

• Male Juneau resident in his 20s (as already reported above)
• Female Anchorage resident in her 30s
• Male Kusilvak Census Area resident in his 60s
• Male Anchorage resident in his 60s
• Female Hoonah-Angoon/Yakutat area resident in her 40s
• Female Anchorage resident in her 60s
• Male Anchorage resident in his 70s

Alaska has had 141,249 cumulative resident cases of COVID-19 and a total of 5,349 nonresidents.

Juneau vaccine update:

• 75.4 percent of the total population of Juneau has received at least 1 dose of vaccine and 69.9 percent has completed the vaccine series.
• 95 percent of the population in Juneau age 65+ has received at least one dose of vaccine and 92 percent has completed the vaccine series.

For more information, read CBJ’s Emergency Operations Center Reports here.

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 13 new individuals in the Juneau community – 12 residents and one nonresident – identified with COVID-19 for November 13 thru November 15. According to Juneau Public Health, there are about 58 active cases. There are currently three people with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital.

The Juneau School District reports one new individual at Sayéik: Gastineau Elementary School who’s tested positive for COVID-19 and was infectious while in school. Some close contacts have been identified but no classes are quarantined as a result. COVID-19 cases related to schools are posted on juneauschools.org (click on the green “COVID-19 Cases” block).

Statewide, DHSS reports 1,089 new people identified with COVID-19 – 1,077 are residents and 12 are nonresidents – in the past three days. The state also reports two recent deaths – two female Anchorage residents in their 80s – bringing the total number of resident deaths to 803. Alaska has had 140,904 cumulative resident cases of COVID-19 and a total of 5,343 nonresidents.

After a sustained decline in case rate, test positivity, and gains in public health and hospital capacity, the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is reducing the overall community risk to modified Level 3 High. Juneau was last at modified High on July 30, before increasing to High on August 20. At modified High, masking is still being required in indoor public areas, but all other COVID-19 Community Mitigation Strategies drop to Level 2 Moderate.

The following community mitigation measures are effective immediately:

• Indoor gathering limit is raised from 20 to 50 with masks required. There is no size limit if all individuals at the gathering are fully vaccinated; masks required.
• ​Restaurant capacity requirement lifted, though recommendation to ensure distancing between parties remains in place.
• Bars no longer have to close at 11 p.m. though indoor service still must not exceed 50 percent capacity.
• Personal services are still by appointment only, but waiting areas can now be at 50 percent capacity.
• Gyms are still limited to 50 percent capacity. Indoor classes are limited to fully vaccinated individuals only.

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

The CDC continues to recommend indoor masking for both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals at Juneau’s current community-wide case rate.

Behind vaccination, masking in indoor spaces remains the most effective tool to continue the sustained decline of COVID-19 case activity in Juneau and further lower the community risk level. The EOC will continue to monitor the situation and respond with adjustments to the community mitigation strategies as appropriate.

For more information, email [email protected].