State reports two more Juneau COVID-19 cases

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has reported two more confirmed cases of COVID-19 from Juneau. The sources of the virus in both cases are pending investigation. Including the Juneau cases, Alaska has 14 new cases statewide, for a cumulative total of 185. Cumulative totals do include recovered cases.

Juneau has had 14 cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, two were travel related (one out-of-state travel, one in-state), four are pending investigation, and DHSS categorizes eight as local. For cases acquired locally, the state includes both secondary transmission from a known case (which the state was previously calling “close contact”) and community transmission with no identified source case. In Juneau, no cases yet have reportedly resulted from community transmission.

CBJ is coordinating closely with DHSS. Officials with the state Division of Public Health have initiated a contact investigation with this recent case and will reach out to any person who may have come into contact with this individual. Public Health will notify and isolate additional persons as appropriate.

On Friday, the state issued a Health Alert recommending Alaskans wear a cloth face covering over the nose and mouth in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) and to not remove the face covering until you return home. Read the full guidance for details. In accordance with the Juneau Assembly’s Hunker Down resolution and State of Alaska’s Health Mandate 11, Juneau residents are required to stay at home as much as possible.

For local news, information, and resources to help keep Juneau safe and healthy, go to juneau.org/covid-19. Find local FAQs, recent Assembly actions regarding COVID-19, and resources for assistance.