Of Juneau’s two new COVID-19 cases, one is a Lemon Creek Correctional employee

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has reported two more cases of COVID-19 from Juneau. According to DHSS, one case is a female under age 10 and one case is a male aged 20-29. Juneau has now had 23 cumulative cases. Twelve of them have recovered.

One of the two newest cases is a staff member 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 seven. Two of them have recovered, according to the state Division of Public Health.

Statewide, there are seven new cases, for a cumulative statewide total of 300.

Because many people with COVID-19 present with very mild illness, the State of Alaska is encouraging more broad testing. State guidelines advise health care providers to test individuals who have:

• a new onset of cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing; OR
• a new onset of two or more of the following: chills, diminished sense of taste or smell, diarrhea, fatigue, fever (measured or subjective), headache, muscle/joint aches, nausea, rigors, runny nose, sore throat, or sputum production.

If you have symptoms, contact your primary healthcare provider first. Juneau residents can also call the local COVID-19 Screening Hotline at 586-6000, noon to 6 p.m. daily. Testing will be arranged if appropriate. If someone meets the criteria for testing but is homebound or has no transportation, a community paramedic can conduct an in-home test.

For non-clinical questions, you can call 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221.

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