Juneau Assembly extends COVID-19 mitigation strategies

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly last week passed an ordinance extending COVID-19 Community Mitigation Strategies until March 1, unless terminated earlier. The mitigation strategies are a set of rules on masks/social distancing, large gatherings, restaurants/bars, personal services, gyms, and travel that are tied to the city’s current risk level. The higher the risk level, the more strict the rules, and vice versa. To be clear, the Assembly did not pass an ordinance requiring individuals to wear masks in indoor public areas until March 1; rather, the ordinance contains rules on masking that change depending on the severity of the disease situation. Read the ordinance here. Read CBJ’s COVID-19 Risk Metrics & Mitigation Strategies here.

Under the ordinance, Juneau’s disease situation can be classified as Fully Open, Minimal, Moderate, High, or Very High, and each classification connects to required mitigation measures. Currently, Juneau’s overall community risk is at High. That means:

• Masks/face coverings must be worn indoors in public areas regardless of vaccination status, and individuals should maintain 6-ft of distance.
• Indoor gatherings are limited to 20 people, masks required; no size limit if everyone is fully vaccinated; outdoors gatherings require 6-feet distancing.
• Personal services are by appointment only; no waiting areas.
• Restaurants and bars are limited to 50% indoor capacity, must close at 11 p.m. and maintain 6-feet distance between parties and a patron list.
• Gyms are limited to 50% capacity, can only hold scheduled indoor classes for fully vaccinated individuals, and not allow pick-up games.

Again, the measures for each category would change once the community is at a lower risk level. Likewise, they would change if Juneau went to a Very High risk level.

The previous ordinance establishing the mitigation strategies was set to expire at the end of October. Southeast Alaska, including Juneau, has seen a resurgence of COVID-19 outbreaks, including the highly transmittable Delta variant that is resulting in a significant increase in positive cases. In August, Juneau averaged 21 new cases per day. In September, 24 new cases per day. In the past two weeks, the average new COVID-19 positive cases per day in Juneau is 34.

For more information, contact Emergency Operations Center Incident Commander/Deputy City Manager Robert Barr at 586-5240 or [email protected].