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State reports three more COVID-19 cases from Juneau, two work at Lemon Creek Correctional

April 15, 2020 – News

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSShas reported three more confirmed cases of COVID-19 from Juneau. How the disease was acquired is under investigation. According to DHSS, the three cases are male; two aged 20-29, one aged 30-39. Cumulatively, Juneau has now had 21 cases. Twelve of them have recovered.

Two of the three newest cases are staff members at Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau, according to the Department of Corrections (DOC). This brings the total number of positive cases of Lemon Creek Correctional staff to six. Two of them have recovered, according to the state Division of Public Health. No Lemon Creek Correctional inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

DOC says it’s been working closely with the state Epidemiology team as well as public health officials to conduct contact investigations for all confirmed cases at the facility. As a result, roughly 40 staff members from Lemon Creek Correctional have been tested for COVID-19. Staff members who have tested are permitted to return to work following approval from the state epidemiology team and public health officials. Staff members with pending tests are not permitted to access the facility until a negative test result is received and current CDC and epidemiologic criteria is met. As of yesterday, four inmates at Lemon Creek have been tested for COVID-19. All four have come back negative.

For more local news, information, and resources to help keep Juneau safe and healthy, go to juneau.org/covid-19.