COVID-19 follow-up in Alaska: 271 new cases reported Sunday, no new deaths

A total of 228 Alaskans and one non-resident with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic reached the state in March, including 23 deaths reported since January 1. Alaska’s per capita death rate is among the lowest in the country, although the size and vulnerability of the healthcare system complicates national comparisons.

As of Sunday, 65 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized statewide and five more people in hospitals were suspected of being infected. Hospitalizations are about half of the level reported in November and early December, when the state saw the highest spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths since the virus reached Alaska in March. At the time, officials feared hospitals could be overwhelmed by COVID-19 infections.

Cases have declined in recent weeks, but the state remains on high alert.

The vaccines arrived in Alaska in mid-December and by Friday 43,992 Alaskans had received the first dose, according to the state’s Vaccine Monitoring Dashboard. Nearly 11,000 Alaskans had received the second dose of the vaccine on Friday, the most recent data available.

Health care workers, nursing home staff and residents were the first group to receive the vaccinations. Earlier this month, the state opened up vaccines to adults over 65, though appointment windows are limited and fill up quickly when the scheduling window opens.

For more information on immunization appointments, the public can visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 and leave a message. One record says calls will be returned in order of receipt within 48 hours, but some users have reported longer delays.

Of the 265 cases reported Sunday among residents of Alaska, 55 were in Anchorage, three in Chugiak and five in Eagle River; one was at Anchor Point and one at Homer; three were at Kodiak; three were in Cordoba and one in Valdez; 29 were at Fairbanks and six at the North Pole; one was at Delta Junction; two were in Big Lake; eight in Palmer and 18 in Wasilla; one was at Nome; six were in Utqiagvik; two were in Juneau; 24 were in Unalaska; eight were at Bethel; and one was in Hooper Bay.

Among the communities of less than 1,000 people not named for privacy, there was one in the northern Kenai Peninsula; one was in the borough of Kodiak Island; one was in the Copper River region of the Valdez-Cordova census area; one was in the borough of Fairbanks North Star; three were in the Yukon-Koyukuk census region; one was in the Nome census area; three were in the borough of North Slope; four were in the Northwestern Arctic Borough; one was in the Yakutat area plus Hoonah-Angoon; 43 were in the Bethel census area; five were in the Bristol Bay Lake and Peninsula boroughs; four were in the Dillingham census area; and 19 were in the Kusilvak census area.

Six cases have been reported among non-residents, including two infections in Anchorage, one in Wasilla and three infections, with the location still under investigation.

While people can be tested more than once, each case reported by the state’s health department represents only one person.

State data does not specify whether people who test positive for COVID-19 have symptoms. More than half of the country’s infections are transmitted by asymptomatic people, according to CDC estimates.

The statewide test positivity rate on Sunday was 3.52% over an average of seven days. Health officials say anything over 5% can indicate inadequate testing and widespread community transmission. The condition peaked at over 9% positivity in November.