COVID-19 News Archive

The City and Borough of Juneau began distributing the CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test to the general public last week. All 26,000 test kits that CBJ received have a printed expiration date on the box of March 2022. In fact, the CareStart test kits that CBJ received all expire on June 30, 2022. This is based on approval from the …

For the past seven days, Alaska Department of Health & Social Services reports 719 new individuals who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 in the Juneau community, which is by far the highest case activity to date. This number does not include people who’ve tested positive through a rapid self-test. There are currently eight people with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The hospital …

The City and Borough of Juneau received a shipment of 26,000 COVID-19 self-tests Wednesday evening and they’re ready for pick-up at several distribution spots around town. Thousands of tests will also go to local organizations. CBJ placed the order earlier this month when supply was getting low. These rapid antigen tests can be self-administered at home or anywhere, are easy …

A free COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine and booster clinic for ages 12 and up is happening this Saturday, January 22, at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register now at juneau.org/vaccine or call 907-586-6000, or simply walk in day of. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently expanded its recommendation on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to include individuals 12 and …

Every household can order one set of 4 free at-home COVID-19 self-tests from the federal government at COVIDtests.gov. There are no shipping fees and you don’t need to enter a credit card number. The only information required to order the tests is a person’s name and their address. People can include their email addresses if they want updates on their …

A free COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine and booster clinic for ages 12 and up is happening Saturday, January 22, at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register now at juneau.org/vaccine or call 907-586-6000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently expanded its recommendation on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to include individuals 12 and up. Older kids, parents, …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded its recommendation on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to include individuals who are 12 to 15 years old. Now, ages 12 to 17 can get a Pfizer booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer series. (People ages 18 and up can get either the Pfizer or Moderna booster 5 months after …

Due to a limited supply of monoclonal antibody therapeutics nationwide and Juneau’s rapidly increasing COVID-19 case count, Bartlett Regional Hospital is implementing strict criteria for therapy administration. Criteria includes: individuals with immunocompromising conditions, such as active cancer patients for tumor or blood cancers, those who have received a solid organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system, …

Here are some updates on the City and Borough of Juneau’s free COVID-19 self-test distribution and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) COVID-19 airport testing program: Self-test distribution CBJ locations offering free COVID-19 self-tests, as well as the Juneau Public Health Center, are either extremely low on supply or currently out of stock. Since December, CBJ has …

The Alaska Department of Health & Social Services today reports 190 new individuals who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 in the Juneau community in the past five days. This number does not include people who’ve tested positive through a rapid self-test. Due to high case count activity and associated high number of close contacts, the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 75 new residents and 4 nonresidents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for December 27 and 28. Additionally, 64 new residents and 4 nonresidents were reported on Monday, representing cases reported between December 22 and December 26. These numbers total 147 new cases which represent a significant increase over …

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases across the country and locally, CBJ recommends that travelers get tested for COVID-19 upon their return to Juneau.  Free testing is available at the Juneau International Airport and at the Fire Training Center.  The majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset …

“My family has always worked in labs. There are many lab professionals in the family. My grandfather was a biochemist in organic steroid chemistry. My mother was a chemist and worked in laboratory information services. Growing up, my mom brought home rescue lab rabbits. This was during a time when you needed to make your own lab reagents with rabbit …

Due to sustained improvements in hospital and public health capacity, other risk indicators being at the low or moderate level, and Juneau’s high vaccination rate, 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, but all other COVID-19 Community Mitigation Strategies remain the …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded its recommendation on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to include individuals who are 16- and 17-years-old. Now, ages 16 and up can get a Pfizer booster shot 6 months after their initial Pfizer series. “CDC is strengthening its booster recommendations and encouraging everyone 16 and older to receive a booster shot. Although …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 25 new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for December 9 and December 10. According to Juneau Public Health, there are about 80 active cases. Of those: about half the cases are known exposures, mostly from household members or small gatherings; roughly a quarter appear to be community transmission; and …

The City and Borough of Juneau has added the Juneau Public Health Center and Juneau Police Department as public distribution sites for free COVID-19 self-tests. You can use these rapid antigen tests regardless of vaccination status, or whether or not you have symptoms. The test can be self-administered from home, or wherever, and returns results in 15 minutes. Here’s the …

In October 2020, the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center (EOC) opened Centennial Hall as a COVID-19 quarantine and isolation facility. The goal was to prevent the spread of the virus amongst vulnerable populations, which would have led to high rates of hospitalizations. Most individuals using the facility did not have permanent housing and many had severe alcohol …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 15 new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for December 7 and December 8. According to Juneau Public Health, there are about 75 active cases. At least half are secondary cases. There is currently one person with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The Juneau School District, on December 7, …

With the holiday season upon us, many will be attending holiday gatherings with family and friends both near and far. Here are some tips and reminders about COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and holiday travel: If you’re already fully vaccinated and you’re 18 years or older, you might be due for a booster for added protection: If it’s been six months since …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 23 new individuals – 22 residents and one nonresident – in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for December 4 through December 6. The Juneau School District reports two new individuals within the Juneau School District who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and were infectious while in school: One at Harborview Elementary School …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 11 new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for December 3. Please note: Starting this Monday, December 6, the DHSS cases dashboard will update three times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – and DHSS will begin issuing its COVID-19 summary emails only on those days as well. To stay …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 13 new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for December 2. No one from the Juneau School District has tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Please note: Starting this coming Monday, December 6, the DHSS cases dashboard will update three times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – and DHSS …

“Many parents are asking me, ‘Why should I vaccinate my kids if they would likely only have mild symptoms from COVID-19?’ Here are my top reasons to vaccinate your child: Some kids do get very sick. We saw higher rates of kids being hospitalized from the Delta variant and some kids have long-term complications like Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. We don’t …

A free Pfizer Vaccine Clinic for kids age 5-11 is happening this Saturday, December 4, at Riverbend Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vaccinating children against COVID-19 is safe and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Register your child at juneau.org/vaccine, call 907-586-6000, or …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports six new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for December 1. According to Juneau Public Health, there are about 68 active cases. Of those, there are 19 cases in kids under age 12, most in kids ages 0-6. The Juneau School District reports one new individual at Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has strengthened its recommendation on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses for individuals who are 18 years and older. Everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot 6 months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna series, or 2 months after their initial Johnson & Johnson vaccine. “The recent emergence of the Omicron variant …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports seven new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 30. According to Juneau Public Health, there are about 64 active cases. Of those, most are individuals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s and there are quite a few cases in children under age 3. There are several …

An at-home COVID-19 test is a convenient option for anyone who needs to get tested for COVID-19. The test can be self-administered at home or anywhere, returns results in 15 minutes, and is a useful tool to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Starting Wednesday, December 1, the City and Borough of Juneau will be distributing free at-home tests to …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 35 new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 25 thru November 29. According to Juneau Public Health, there are about 64 active cases. Please note: Starting Monday, December 6, the DHSS cases dashboard will update three times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – and DHSS …

Free pediatric Pfizer vaccine clinics for all Juneau youth ages 5-11 are happening today, November 29; Tuesday, November 30; and Saturday, December 4. These clinics are for first and second doses; the pediatric vaccine requires two doses administered three weeks apart. If your kid needs a first dose, register at juneau.org/vaccine or 586-6000. If you’ve already registered your child for their second …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 19 new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 24. According to Juneau Public Health, there are about 64 active cases. No one from the Juneau School District has tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Statewide, DHSS reports 487 new people identified with COVID-19 – 476 are residents and …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports six new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 23. According to Juneau Public Health, there are about 48 active cases. Of those, about 11 are minors under 18, and three are adults over 60. The majority of case activity is currently in individuals in their 20s …

The City and Borough of Juneau – in partnership with Juneau Public Health Center, Bartlett Regional Hospital, Juneau School District, local pediatricians, and other community organizations – is hosting free pediatric Pfizer vaccine clinics for all Juneau youth ages 5-11 on Monday, November 29; Tuesday, November 30; and Saturday, December 4. Register your 5-11 year-old now at juneau.org/vaccine or 586-6000. Pediatric vaccine …

Starting Tuesday, November 23, the Juneau Public Health Center is offering COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5 and up Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through December 30, excluding holidays. Make an appointment on juneau.org/vaccine, call 586-6000, or simply walk in. The following COVID-19 vaccinations are available every weekday at Juneau Public Health Center, 3412 Glacier Highway: Pediatric Pfizer …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 11 new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 20 thru November 22. Bartlett Regional Hospital doesn’t have any COVID-19 patients, and no one has tested positive for COVID-19 within the Juneau School District since Friday. Statewide, DHSS reports 750 new people identified with COVID-19 – 744 are residents …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 36 new individuals in the Juneau community – 34 residents and two nonresidents – identified with COVID-19 for November 19. Thirty of these cases are from November 9-16 and were not previously reported by the state due to a DHSS technical issue. There are currently two people with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional …

The Centers for Disease Control and Infection now recommend the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine boosters to anyone age 18 and older. This follows authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 boosters were already available to anyone 65 years and older, and people age 18 and older with underlying medical conditions, or who live or work …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports two new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 18. The state is expected to catch up on the Juneau cases it did not report – due to a DHSS technical issue – in its COVID-19 data summary tomorrow or Monday. There are currently two people with COVID-19 hospitalized …

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 …

Here are details of the vaccine providers in Juneau that currently offer the Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5-11: Genoa Healthcare Walk-in 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday thru Friday (closed for lunch 12 – 12:30 p.m.) or call 877-658-0304 for more information 1944 Allen Ct. within JAMHI Juneau Health and Wellness, Inc. Juneau Public Health Center By appointment only …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports five new individuals in the Juneau community – four residents and one nonresident – identified with COVID-19 for November 11 and November 12. There are currently four people with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The Juneau School District reports one new individual at Auke Bay Elementary School who’s tested positive for …

This week, 648 Juneau kids ages 5-11 got vaccinated against COVID-19 at a CBJ pediatric clinic! 148 of them also got the flu shot. Thank you to all the families and kids who attended the clinic, all the hardworking clinic staff and volunteers, and all the partners CBJ works with to make the clinics possible – Juneau Public Health Center, …

The Juneau Public Health Center has added additional opportunities for kids ages 5-11 to get the two-dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Sign up your child at juneau.org/vaccine or 586-6000. Including tomorrow’s pediatric clinic, here are available times: Thursday, November 11, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Riverbend Elementary School Tuesday, November 16, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Juneau Public Health Center Tuesday, …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports eight new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 10. According to Juneau Public Health, there are about 83 active cases. Of those, about 25 are age 18 or younger. There are currently five people with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital. Statewide, DHSS reports 508 new people identified with COVID-19 …

The City and Borough of Juneau has started distributing rapid, over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests to local organizations that serve community members who may otherwise struggle to obtain a COVID-19 test. So far, CBJ has received 5,000 tests from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) through a federal allocation. CBJ expects to receive an additional 5,000 in the …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports seven new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 9. DHSS also reports one additional death of a Juneau resident due to COVID-19. A male Juneau resident in his 60s died outside Alaska in October. CBJ extends condolences to family members and friends of this individual. There …

COVID-19 vaccine clinics for kids ages 5-11 kicked off yesterday and continue today, November 9, and Thursday, November 11. Sign up your child for the two-dose pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at juneau.org/vaccine or 586-6000. There are still openings at these pediatric vaccine clinics: Tuesday, November 9, 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Mendenhall River Community School Tuesday, November 9, 3:30 p.m. …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 23 new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 6 thru November 8. There are currently five people with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The Juneau School District reports one new individual at Floyd Dryden Middle School who’s tested positive for COVID-19 and was infectious while in school. …

A representative from the Alaska Department of Health & Social Services will join Juneau Emergency Operations Center Incident Commander Robert Barr and City Manager Rorie Watt to provide an update on the status of COVID-19 in Juneau on Tuesday, November 9 at 4 p.m. After a brief presentation, a portion of the COVID-19 Community Update will be devoted to questions …

“I am so happy that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11. Now, more Americans will be protected from COVID infection, and immunized children will be able to safely interact with older family and community members. Vaccine safety evidence shows the risk of illness due to COVID far outweighs the risk of any …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reports 17 new residents in the Juneau community identified with COVID-19 for November 5. There are currently four people with COVID-19 hospitalized at Bartle