Juneau, one of the most Covid-vaccinated cities in Alaska, has reinstated its indoor mask mandate just in time for the 2022 Alaska Legislature, which convenes Jan. 18.
The city reported last week that there are around 156 active Covid-19 cases in Juneau. The number does not include people who’ve tested positive through a rapid self-test. There are currently no individuals with Covid-19 hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital.
“Due to high case count activity and associated high number of close contacts, the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is elevating the overall community risk to modified Level 3 High. At modified High, masking is required in all indoor public areas regardless of a person’s vaccination status, but all other COVID-19 Community Mitigation Strategies remain at Level 2 Moderate. Through this change, the EOC hopes to keep businesses open, government services running, and the hospital staffed; masking remains an effective tool at limiting the spread of COVID,” the city announced.
In addition to indoor masking, masks must be worn in public outdoor areas where six feet of distancing cannot be maintained.
Over 25,000 of the 32,000 Juneau residents have had one dose of a Covid vaccine, or about 83 percent of Juneauites over the age of 5. More than 22,000 residents have had two doses of the shot. Juneau’s vaccination rate is second only to Aleutians East Borough, which is at 95 percent.
Juneau has reported 4,320 Covid infections since the beginning of the pandemic in Alaska in March of 2020, and 14 Juneauites have died from the illness.
Sitka also maintains a mask mandate through March, 2022. Anchorage’s Assembly removed the city’s mask mandate on Dec. 8, 2021.
