Coronavirus

The waiting room at Custom Cuts II in the Jordan Creek Mall sits empty on Aug. 19. Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, new citywide COVID-19 mitigation measures mean that all personal services businesses must operate by appointment only and close all waiting areas. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Local business owners prepare to pivot

City announces increasing risk level and mitigation measures.

The waiting room at Custom Cuts II in the Jordan Creek Mall sits empty on Aug. 19. Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, new citywide COVID-19 mitigation measures mean that all personal services businesses must operate by appointment only and close all waiting areas. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
A sign seen near Twin Lakes on Sept. 17, 2020 encourages residents to wear masks in public settings. With cases surging locally, statewide and nationally, City and Borough of Juneau announced it would be fully implementing mitigation measures. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

City announces increasing risk level, mitigation measures

More stringent measures go into effect on Friday.

A sign seen near Twin Lakes on Sept. 17, 2020 encourages residents to wear masks in public settings. With cases surging locally, statewide and nationally, City and Borough of Juneau announced it would be fully implementing mitigation measures. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
A health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. U.S. health officials Wednesday, Aug. 18, recommended all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Health officials call for booster shots against COVID-19

Plan calls for dose 8 months after people get their 2nd shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine

A health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. U.S. health officials Wednesday, Aug. 18, recommended all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
A sidewalk-based message welcomes students and staff back to Sít’ Eetí Shaanàx-Glacier Valley School ahead of the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16.

Teachers share excitement about return to classrooms

There’s nothing like in-person instruction for teaching

A sidewalk-based message welcomes students and staff back to Sít’ Eetí Shaanàx-Glacier Valley School ahead of the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16.
A seventh death from the coronavirus, which occurred at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this January 2021 photo, was reported on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

City reports 7th COVID death

It follows a sixth death last week.

A seventh death from the coronavirus, which occurred at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this January 2021 photo, was reported on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
A sixth death from the coronavirus, which occurred at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this January 2021 photo, was reported on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Ben Hohenstattl / Juneau Empire File)

City reports 6th COVID death

12 new cases also reported.

A sixth death from the coronavirus, which occurred at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this January 2021 photo, was reported on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Ben Hohenstattl / Juneau Empire File)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML

COVID at a glance for Friday, Aug. 6

The most recent state and local figures

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML
State health officials are again urging Alaskan who haven’t to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are widely available in Alaska, as seen in this Aug. 5 photo, showing a sign advertising free shots. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Officials again urge vaccinations as COVID cases rise

Vax up, mask up.

State health officials are again urging Alaskan who haven’t to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are widely available in Alaska, as seen in this Aug. 5 photo, showing a sign advertising free shots. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
In this April 6 photo, bartender Denis Angelov pours drinks at Tin Pan Alley restaurant in Provincetown, Mass. A study of a large coronavirus outbreak in Provincetown suggests the amount of virus in fully vaccinated people was as great as the viral load in unvaccinated people. Health officials released the study Friday, July 30, 2021, saying it explains their call this week for vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the delta variant of the coronavirus is fueling infection surges. The study focused on an outbreak this month in Provincetown, a seaside tourist spot located in the Massachusetts county with the state's highest vaccination rate. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Study: Vaccinated people can carry as much virus as others

Health officials on Friday released details of that research.

In this April 6 photo, bartender Denis Angelov pours drinks at Tin Pan Alley restaurant in Provincetown, Mass. A study of a large coronavirus outbreak in Provincetown suggests the amount of virus in fully vaccinated people was as great as the viral load in unvaccinated people. Health officials released the study Friday, July 30, 2021, saying it explains their call this week for vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the delta variant of the coronavirus is fueling infection surges. The study focused on an outbreak this month in Provincetown, a seaside tourist spot located in the Massachusetts county with the state's highest vaccination rate. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
The City and Borough of Juneau raised its coronavirus alert level to Level Three- High, beginning on July 30, 2021 after a recent spike in cases. (Unsplash / Tai’s Captures)

City raises community risk level to high

Masks are now mandatory for everyone, regardless of vaccine status, for all indoor public settings.

The City and Borough of Juneau raised its coronavirus alert level to Level Three- High, beginning on July 30, 2021 after a recent spike in cases. (Unsplash / Tai’s Captures)
This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. On Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly OK’d extending local mitigation measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)

City extends COVID mitigation measures

Plans set to expire Oct. 31, fine dropped

This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. On Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly OK’d extending local mitigation measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire There aren’t many patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 at Bartlett Regional Hospitals, seen here on Wednesday, but health officials are urging Alaksans to get vaccinated as a flood of new cases is straining health care systems in other parts of the state.

Officials encourage vaccination as hospitals in state near capacity

Hospitalizations remain low locally, but there’s concern about a surge.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire There aren’t many patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 at Bartlett Regional Hospitals, seen here on Wednesday, but health officials are urging Alaksans to get vaccinated as a flood of new cases is straining health care systems in other parts of the state.
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML

COVID at a glance for Thursday, July 29

The most recent state a local figures

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML
Shoppers wear masks inside of The Cool store in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course Tuesday, July 27, 2021, on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging. City and Borough of Juneau officials are considering extending local mitigation measures that advise residents to wear masks when in indoor public spaces. (AP Photo/ Marcio Jose Sanchez)

City assembly to revisit mitigation measures

A special meeting is set for Wednesday evening

Shoppers wear masks inside of The Cool store in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course Tuesday, July 27, 2021, on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging. City and Borough of Juneau officials are considering extending local mitigation measures that advise residents to wear masks when in indoor public spaces. (AP Photo/ Marcio Jose Sanchez)
COVID-19 cases are rising and health officials say new variants are spurring the increase, even among the vaccinated. But health officials note the majority of hospitalizations and deaths are occurring in unvaccinated people. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire file)

Officials urge health diligence as COVID cases rise

Mask up indoors.

COVID-19 cases are rising and health officials say new variants are spurring the increase, even among the vaccinated. But health officials note the majority of hospitalizations and deaths are occurring in unvaccinated people. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire file)
This chart shows City and Borough of Juneau's 14-day COVID-19 active case trend. As of Thursday, there were 80 active cases in the city. Amid rising rates of new cases, the city's community risk level is being raised. That comes with reimplimenting some mitigation measures that will go into effect at noon on Friday. (Screenshot / CBJ)

City raises community risk level amid rising case rates

New risk level, familiar mitigation measures.

This chart shows City and Borough of Juneau's 14-day COVID-19 active case trend. As of Thursday, there were 80 active cases in the city. Amid rising rates of new cases, the city's community risk level is being raised. That comes with reimplimenting some mitigation measures that will go into effect at noon on Friday. (Screenshot / CBJ)
A sign on a city bus urges the use of face coverings. Masks are again required in city facilities because of an uptick in cases locally and throughout the state. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Update: Masks required in city facilities, encouraged in other indoor spaces

Juneau is seeing highest rates of new infections since December.

A sign on a city bus urges the use of face coverings. Masks are again required in city facilities because of an uptick in cases locally and throughout the state. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Piggy bank

White House announces 84K Alaska families to receive child tax credit payments

Credits where they’re due .

Piggy bank
The American Constellation arrives at the cruise ship docks Monday evening. Crew members will quarantine on board he American Cruise Lines vessel following multiple reported cases of COVID-19 among the crew, according to City and Borough of Juneau. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Small cruise ship to stay at downtown docks during quarantine

Protocols in place.

The American Constellation arrives at the cruise ship docks Monday evening. Crew members will quarantine on board he American Cruise Lines vessel following multiple reported cases of COVID-19 among the crew, according to City and Borough of Juneau. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
T(HE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML)

Following positive COVID tests, small cruise ship’s unvaccinated crew to quarantine on board vessel in Juneau

Those who tested positive and close contacts will isolate in Petersburg.

T(HE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML)