Juneau sees rise in COVID-19 case activity; indoor masking recommended

The State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reports 177 new positive cases in Juneau over the past week, or approximately 25 cases per day. This represents a 48% weekly increase and is the highest case count Juneau has seen since the end of the Omicron wave in early February. While some case activity is attributable to tourism (20 cases) the majority of the spread is occurring within the community. In addition to an increase in case activity, Bartlett Regional Hospital has seen a small increase in patients being treated for COVID-19 as well as an increase in patients reporting to the Emergency Department with COVID-like symptoms over the past week. This and other COVID-19 related data are available through the DHSS Dashboards.

While case activity is elevated the City and Borough of Juneau recommends masking in indoor public spaces, particularly in situations where close contact situations are unavoidable. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of an individual for 15 minutes or longer in a 24 hour period. Masking reduces the transmission of respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Those who are experiencing COVID like symptoms (fever or chills, runny nose, shortness of breath, fatigue, new loss of taste or smell, and others) should test for COVID-19 and remain at home until symptoms improve. Please keep in mind that with over-the-counter antigen tests you have a higher chance of testing negative early in your infection. If your symptoms persist, you should seek a molecular test or repeat the antigen test and continue to isolate. Testing options include:

  • Call the BRH Testing Hotline at 586-6000 or register for a test online (insurance billed, no cost to patient)
  • Visit Capstone Clinic at the Mendenhall Mall M-F, 10 am – 6 pm (insurance billed, no cost to patient)
  • Call SEARHC at 364-4451 (no patient cost for symptomatic/close contact testing)
  • Call Juneau Urgent Care at 790-4111 or register for a test online (cost dependent on insurance)

If you want to get vaccinated or if you’re due for a vaccine booster, please visit https://juneau.org/vaccine for information on current vaccine availability in Juneau or contact your medical provider. If you are not up to date on your vaccinations and are exposed to COVID-19, you should quarantine or isolate per CDC guidance.

For more information, contact the City Manager’s Office at 586-5240.

 

 

May 11th, 2022|Tags: |

New City Hall Public Forum Webinar to be held Thursday, May 19

The City and Borough of Juneau is considering a ballot proposition to construct a new City Hall in the Aak’w Village District.  The proposed site is at 450 Whittier Street.  CBJ staff is seeking public input on conceptual drawings, renderings, and cost estimates.  For more information on the project, please visit https://juneau.org/engineering-public-works/new-city-hall.

The public forum webinar will be held on Thursday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m.  To join the webinar, please click on this link:  https://juneau.zoom.us/j/84983645497  or dial +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or 888 475 4499 (toll free).  Enter webinar ID  849 8364 5497.

For more information, please contact City Architect Jeanne Rynne at 586-0800 x 4186.

 

May 10th, 2022|

COVID-19 PCR testing available on the Bartlett Regional Hospital campus starting May 8

Beginning the afternoon of Sunday, May 8, COVID-19 PCR drive-thru testing will be available to the community on the Bartlett campus across from the Emergency Department entrance. General hours of operation will be seven days a week from 8:15 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.

Individuals who need a COVID-19 PCR test must register for an appointment. The registration process remains the same – individuals are encouraged to self-register online or call the testing hotline if they need assistance. Calls to the testing hotline will be returned the same day when received between 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Drive-thru testing will be conducted on the Bartlett campus (3260 Hospital Drive) across from the Emergency Department (ED) entrance. Individuals arriving for an appointment should stay to the right side of the roadway, pass the patient registration entrance, and proceed towards the ED entrance on the backside of campus (map and testing site photos). Test collection will occur from the vehicle; individuals do not need to enter the hospital. Please be advised that road construction is currently happening on campus and individuals are asked to drive slowly and follow road signage.

As a reminder:

  • The COVID-19 hotline phone number (907-586-6000) will remain the same and will now be referred to as the ‘Juneau COVID-19 Testing Hotline.’
  • The testing hotline will be limited to scheduling a COVID-19 test. Callers will be directed to existing external resources for all other COVID-19 inquiries.
  • COVID-19 PCR tests will continue to be analyzed at Bartlett Regional Hospital with results available within 24 hours.
  • Free COVID-19 antigen home tests are available at the City Hall cash office, all Juneau Public Libraries, Juneau Public Health Center, and the Juneau Police Department.

For more information, please contact the City Manager’s Office at (907) 586-5240.

 

May 9th, 2022|Tags: |

Bartlett offers COVID-19 drive-thru testing to general public starting week of May 8

Starting Monday, May 2, COVID-19 drive-thru testing will be available on the Bartlett Regional Hospital campus for individuals who need a COVID-19 test as a pre-procedure requirement. Limited appointments will be available for these individuals Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Testing for the general public will be available starting the week of May 8; hours of operation to be determined.

Bartlett Regional Hospital previously announced it would be assuming operations over the City and Borough of Juneau’s current COVID-19 hotline and drive-thru testing facility.

Individuals who need a COVID-19 molecular test must register for an appointment. The registration process remains the same – individuals are encouraged to self-register online or call the testing hotline if they need assistance. Calls to the testing hotline will be returned the same day when received between 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Drive-thru testing will be conducted on the Bartlett campus (3260 Hospital Drive) across from the Emergency Department (ED) entrance. Individuals arriving for an appointment should proceed towards the ED and follow the road signage. Test collection will occur from the vehicle; individuals do not need to enter the hospital. Please be advised that road construction is currently happening on campus and individuals are asked to drive slowly and follow traffic control signs.

A follow-up information release will be issued before May 8 announcing the general hours of operation.

As a reminder:

  • The COVID-19 hotline phone number (907-586-6000) will remain the same and will now be referred to as the ‘Juneau COVID-19 Testing Hotline.’
  • The testing hotline will be limited to scheduling a COVID-19 test. Callers will be directed to existing external resources for all other COVID-19 inquiries.
  • COVID-19 PCR tests will continue to be analyzed at Bartlett Regional Hospital with results available within 24 hours.
  • Free COVID-19 antigen home tests are available at the City Hall cash office, all Juneau Public Libraries, Juneau Public Health Center, and the Juneau Police Department while supplies last.

For more information, contact Community Relations Director Erin Hardin at 907-796-8567 or [email protected].

April 28th, 2022|

Following change in policy, Juneau School District facilities are mask optional

Masks are optional for most individuals while indoors in Juneau School District facilities and on school buses. The Board of Education met in a Special Meeting Tuesday night to discuss the JSD Mask Policy. Board members reviewed the current policy, took public input, and made revisions. The following Mask Policy was unanimously approved:

Masks, or similar facial coverings designed to mitigate COVID-19 transmission and are well-fitted covering the mouth and nose, are optional for all persons indoors in Juneau School District facilities. The Superintendent has the authority to require face masks in certain situations, including but not limited to:

  • People in contact with another person identified as “high risk” for severe disease shall wear a mask when indoors with that/those individual(s).
  • People with exposure to someone with COVID-19 (i.e., close contacts) shall wear a mask per current CDC guidelines applicable for K-12 settings.

If masking is required in school settings, it will generally be implemented from individual close contacts to programs, to classrooms, to building-level based on circumstances.

This past Saturday, April 23, the school district implemented a mask requirement due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changing Juneau’s Alert Level to High. At the time, JSD’s Mask Policy hinged on CDC’s community level. Juneau officials now know this tool doesn’t align with what’s happening locally, specifically when it comes to hospitalizations. CDC’s hospitalization metrics are calculated by aggregating boroughs/census areas into “Health Service Areas.” A large section of Southeast – including Yakutat, Skagway, Haines, Hoonah, Angoon, Juneau, and Sitka – are all part of Juneau’s Health Service Area. Data from all hospitals in a Health Service Area are added together to calculate the hospitalization metric. COVID-19 hospitalizations in communities outside Juneau caused Juneau’s overall community level to switch to High. CBJ still considers the local community health risk from COVID-19 to be minimal.

As a reminder, people may choose to mask indoors in JSD facilities, on school buses or outdoors on school district grounds at any time. It is an individual decision that students, staff members and visitors are free to make without judgment. Parents who wish their child to wear a mask should communicate directly with their child about the expectation.

April 27th, 2022|
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