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The deaths involved a woman from Kodiak and a man from Soldotna, state officials said. They were both in their sixties.
Although higher than those reported in previous days, Wednesday’s figures were part of a downward trend in the number of cases reported in recent weeks after a surge from November to early December. Coronavirus hospitalizations are also on the decline. Health officials say a withdrawal order in Anchorage that moves to a less restrictive phase on Friday played a role in the decline, as have voluntary actions taken by residents of the state.
A total of 202 Alaskans and one non-resident with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic began here in March. Alaska’s overall per capita death rate is among the lowest in the country, but officials say the state’s vast geography and vulnerable healthcare system make it difficult to compare with other states.
Alaska received its first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine in mid-December. Hospital health workers, emergency personnel, and residents and staff of long-term care facilities were given priority to receive the first doses. State officials are expected to announce the next phase of vaccine allocation on Thursday.
Statewide, 69 Alaskans with COVID-19 were hospitalized on Wednesday and four others were suspected of having the virus. Almost 10% of adults in Alaskan hospitals have COVID-19.
Hospitalizations have declined statewide in recent weeks. In Anchorage, where the sickest patients are often treated, there were 14 of 65 intensive care unit beds available, putting this indicator in the red zone which indicates less than 25% capacity.
Of the 368 infections reported among Alaskan residents on Wednesday, there were 113 in Anchorage, plus four in Chugiak and 29 in Eagle River; one in Kenai, one in Nikiski and four in Soldotna; 12 to Kodiak; five in Cordoba; 23 at Fairbanks and four at the North Pole; one in Tok; two in Big Lake, 25 in Palmer, 69 in Wasilla and one in Willow; one in Nome; eight in Utqiagvik; five in Juneau; three in Ketchikan; two in Unalaska; 14 in Bethel; and three in Shevak.
Among the communities of less than 1,000 people not named for privacy, there was one in the southern Kenai Peninsula; five in the Chugach census area; two in the Copper River census area; two in Fairbanks North Star Borough; one in the southeast Fairbanks census area; one in the Yukon-Koyukuk census region; one in the census area of Nome; three in the borough of North Slope; one in the Prince of Wales-Hyder census area; 19 in the Bethel census area; and two in the Dillingham census area.
Six cases have been reported in non-residents, including two in Anchorage, one in Soldotna and three in localities under investigation.
While people can be tested more than once, each case reported by the state’s health department represents only one person.
It is not known how many people who tested positive for the virus showed symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about a third of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic.
The statewide test positivity rate on Wednesday was 4.82% over a seven-day average. Health experts say anything over 5% can indicate inadequate testing and potentially widespread community transmission. The condition peaked at over 9% test positivity in mid-November.
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