Angoon’s mayor, Joshua Bowen, has enacted emergency mandates for self-isolation and quarantining as the coronavirus comes to the small town. (Courtesy photo / Joshua Bowen)

Angoon’s mayor, Joshua Bowen, has enacted emergency mandates for self-isolation and quarantining as the coronavirus comes to the small town. (Courtesy photo / Joshua Bowen)

Angoon sees climbing case count as testing continues

The town has clamped down on all external movement and is testing all citizens.

Angoon Mayor Joshua Bowen said now would be a good time for people to “hold off on your visits.”

The town, previously inviolate to the spread of the coronavirus, had its first confirmed case earlier in the week, which rapidly ballooned to eight and now 10 cases, with one probable, Bowen said.

“The number of tests done as of last night was 219,” Bowen said in a phone interview. “The number of positives was 10.”

The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is responsible for carrying out and processing those tests. The whole Admiralty Island community, more than 400 people, is currently being tested, Bowen said.

[Man found dead at construction site, JPD investigating]

“They’re being sent over to Sitka. They were testing all day today,” Bowen said. “The local PA (physician’s assistant) was saying they were looking at doing another round next week.”

Testing the entire community is a standard Department of Health and Social Services technique during this pandemic, said Clinton Bennett, a spokesperson for the DHSS.

“In general with outbreaks, testing can be handled by a few different methods: collecting samples across the community or outbreak area and transporting them all to a high capacity lab for processing,” Bennett said. “If the community or outbreak location is of a smaller size rapid testing platforms can be used. In that situation a local clinic or organization can handle that testing if they have the supplies and staff or a deployed team can travel to that community with rapid testing devices and test the community. All of these methods and variations of (them) have been used throughout Alaska.”

If the coronavirus spreads further in Angoon, stricter measures will have to be enacted, Bowen said. Current measures include a mask mandate, quarantine for anyone confirmed or suspected of having the coronavirus by public health officals a and a two-week self isolation policy alongside a written declaration for all travellers.

“Beyond what I did with the emergency order, I imagine there’d be a push for a travel lockdown and a hunker-down mandate. Right now it’s just a suggestion,” Bowen said. “Usually there’s cars driving around and people walking around, and we’re not seeing any of that. Last night we had a ferry come in and no one got off.”

The closure of the Angoon Oil Fuel Dock to contain the spread is the biggest issue for many, Bowen said, confining many to home.

“We’re kind of being a little forced to with the closure of the fuel station. I think that’s the chief complaint I’m hearing,” Bowen said. “This is prime time for beach seining and gillnetting for subsistence.”

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

More in News

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, June 16, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, June 17, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for the week of June 22

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule.… Continue reading

Jennifer Skinner and Dave Ringle stand by the St. Vincent de Paul logo on Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
St. Vincent de Paul St. Therese Conference announces new leadership

Jennifer Skinner replaces Dave Ringle as the executive director of the organization with his continued involvement

Hannahadina Kuhnert leads a music procession during Juneau Juneteenth celebration at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library in 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Black Awareness Association hosts movie nights for Juneteenth celebration

June 19 is celebrated as an Alaska state holiday and a holiday for City and Borough of Juneau workers

Autumn leaves lie on a trail in the Campbell Tract on Oct. 8, 2020. The tract appears to be the largest piece of salable land in urban Anchorage under a U.S. Senate Republican proposal. Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s office said the tract is a recreational gem for Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon)
Federal land sales, more logging and more oil revenue: What’s in the big federal bill for Alaska?

A look at the lands and energy pieces of the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ and where they stand right now in the U.S. Senate

Paul Myers takes a business phone call while stopped in Haines on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Staying connected on the Columbia

The fastest and largest vessel in the fleet is testing public Wi-Fi

Sunlight gleams through the Tongass National Forest in Juneau on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Trump land sale plan draws protest in Sitka

Sitka residents are mounting a strong response to a draft provision of… Continue reading

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for the week of June 15

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule.… Continue reading

Most Read