COVID-19 follow-up in Alaska: 495 new cases, no deaths reported Friday

New cases of the virus, hospitalizations and deaths have been on the rise statewide for weeks, but this week marked a drop in the number of daily cases.

A total of 182 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 comparisons with other states difficult.

As of Friday, 122 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized statewide and eight others in hospitals suspected of having the virus. In total, 14.3% of adults hospitalized in Alaska had COVID-19.

Statewide, 31 beds in adult intensive care units remained open. In Anchorage, where the state’s sickest patients are often found, only four of 70 intensive care unit beds were available.

While hospital staffing has remained a major concern, health and hospital officials say facilities may move staff and planned procedures to increase capacity.

State models indicate that the curve for new infections is flattening, although officials warn it is too early to relax precautions such as masking and social distancing. They say one of the reasons for the drop could be Anchorage’s amended one-month order to protect the hospital’s capacity.

This week also marked the state’s first COVID-19 vaccinations for hospitals and other frontline workers. It’s unclear when the general public will have access to a vaccine, but health officials have said it looks likely to happen in late spring or summer.

Of the 485 new cases reported among Alaskan residents on Friday, there were 184 in Anchorage, eight in Eagle River, four in Chugiak and two in Girdwood; 65 in Fairbanks and 22 in the North Pole; 40 in Wasilla, 20 in Palmer, two in Willow and one in Meadow Lakes; 25 in Kenai, 18 in Soldotna, 5 in Nikiski, 4 in Homer, 4 in Seward and 1 in Sterling; 17 to Kodiak; 16 in Utqiagvik; nine in Juneau; six in Sitka; four at Bethel; two at Delta Junction; two in Haines; two to Craig; one in Ketchikan; one in Valdez; one in Shevak; one in Wrangell; and one in an unknown community.

Among the communities of less than 1,000 people not named for privacy, there were two in the northern Kenai Peninsula; one in the Valdez-Cordova census area; two in the Denali borough; five in the borough of Fairbanks North Star; one in the Southeast Fairbanks census area; two in the Yukon-Koyukuk census region; one in the Matanuska-Susitna district; and three in the Bethel census area.

Of the 10 new cases reported among non-residents, there were two in Unalaska, one in Fairbanks, and seven in an unidentified area of ​​the state.

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 had symptoms. The CDC estimates that about a third of people with coronavirus infections are asymptomatic.

The statewide test positivity rate was 5.9% last week, after peaking over 9% in mid-November. Health officials say a positivity rate above 5% may indicate inadequate testing and potentially widespread community transmission.