Juneau has a new resident case of COVID-19

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reports 1 new resident case of COVID-19 in Juneau. How the individual contracted the virus is under investigation. Juneau’s case is part of 54 new statewide cases reported today – 40 residents and 14 nonresidents.

“Most people are coming into contact with the virus through respiratory droplets. When we speak or when we sing, when we cough, when we sneeze – there are larger respiratory droplets that typically, if you’re infected with the virus, contain a lot of the virus in them and they typically fall to the ground after about 3-5 feet. So if you’re 6 feet away from people, you’re really going to avoid that trajectory, especially if that person has a mask on. That’s really going to prevent those larger respiratory droplets from spraying out and people being exposed to them,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin said during last night’s State of Alaska COVID-19 press briefing.

According to Public Health Nursing in Juneau, of Juneau’s recent resident cases, three are a result of secondary transmission, all linked to the same known positive case; and five are a result of community spread. That means five individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 have no known contact to a positive case and haven’t recently traveled within or out of state.

Cumulatively, Juneau has had 52 residents test positive for COVID-19 since March. Of those, three cases are active, 47 individuals have recovered, and two are deceased. Juneau has had a total of six nonresidents with COVID-19; all have recovered.

Statewide, Alaska has had 1,579 resident COVID-19 cases – 920 are active – and a total of 320 nonresident cases.