By Melinda Munson

Mayor Andrew Cremata expressed concern at Juneau’s predicted increase of COVID-19 cases during his report to the Borough Assembly on Sept. 17.

“We should closely monitor Juneau cases. If the suspected surge in positive cases comes to fruition, we should consider a seven-day mandatory quarantine for anyone coming to Skagway from out of town at our next meeting,” Cremata said.

Juneau is waiting for the results of around 700 COVID tests which were administered last week. After several COVID-19 cases were linked to drinking establishments, the city counseled anyone who visited a bar between Aug. 24 and Sept. 7 to undergo testing, even if they were asymptomatic.

The capital city is now at Level 3 High, a designation which bans indoor service at bars and limits restaurants to half capacity and requires reservations.

“Our hope is that by going to Level 3 and having bars close and having this large scale testing effort, we’ll turn the corner here and be able to go in the opposite direction,” Emergency Planning Section Chief Robert Barr told the Juneau Empire.

On March 24, Skagway mandated a 14-day quarantine for anyone entering town. The quarantine was lifted June 4.

 Currently, there are no screening requirements for interstate travellers although masks are required in all structures owned by the municipality when six feet of social distancing is not possible.