This article has been updated to include new information from a press conference. An earlier version of this article referenced the incorrect day of the week. Department of Health and Social Services confirmed new cases Tuesday.
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Tuesday confirmed four new COVID-19 cases in Juneau, according to City and Borough of Juneau.
The new cases bring the city’s total to nine, according to DHSS. There were 14 new cases in the state Thursday, said Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink in a press conference.
In addition to the cases in Juneau, there were two new cases in Anchorage, two in Eagle River, two in Fairbanks and one in the Kenai Peninsula.
Zink said nine of the patients are men and five are women. Two are between the ages of 19 and 29, 10 are between 30 and 59 and two over the age of 60.
“Two are considered travel-related cases, including the Kenai Peninsula one, five are considered close contacts of previously known cases and seven are under investigation,” Zink said. “Unfortunately, there are two additional people being hospitalized at this time. That brings our total people that have been hospitalized to seven.”
According to DHSS, Juneau’s cases are close contacts of “previously confirmed case(s).”
CBJ is coordinating closely with DHSS, according to CBJ. Officials with the state Division of Public Health will initiate a contact investigation and reach out to any person who may have come into contact with these individuals. Public Health will notify and isolate additional persons as appropriate.
Bartlett Regional Hospital is one of many organizations in Juneau adjusting its operating procedures to deal with the risk of outbreak of the coronavirus. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
