The person who died was an Anchorage man in his 70s, the health department said. The data is yet to reflect the death of a Utqiagvik resident reported by the Arctic Slope Native Association on Monday.
A total of 224 Alaskans – plus Utqiagvik resident – and one non-resident with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic hit the state in March. Alaska’s per capita mortality rate is among the lowest in the country, although the state’s size and vulnerable health care system make national comparisons difficult.
According to the state, 67 people with COVID-19 were admitted to the hospital, and according to the state, four more patients were suspected of having the virus. Hospitalizations are usually declining, especially as there are high numbers in November and early December.
The daily number of cases in the state has also dropped significantly over the past few weeks, although health officials are still expressing concern about an increase after the holidays. The warning level across the country is still high.
Vaccines reached Alaska in mid-December. By Tuesday, 29,803 people had received their first dose of vaccine, while 5,976 had received both doses needed to have the vaccine fully effective, according to the state panel for vaccine monitoring.
Government officials said this week the state has awarded the vaccine received for December and January, but there are still appointments and major clinics taking place in the coming days and weeks.
For more information, the public can go to covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 and leave a message. According to a survey, calls will be returned in the order within 48 hours.
Of the 155 new cases reported among Alaska residents Tuesday, there were 32 in Anchorage plus one in Chugiak and two in Eagle River; one in Anchor Point, two in Homer, four in Kenai, two in Soldotna and one in Sterling; 18 in Fairbanks and five in the North Pole; one in Tok; one in Big Lake, eight in Palmer and 14 in Wasilla; two in Utqiagvik; eight in Juneau; two in Ketchikan; four in Sitka; one in Unalaska; 13 in Bethel; one in Chevak; and one in Hooper Bay.
Among the communities of less than 1,000 people not named for privacy, there were 13 in the North Slope City; two in the Fairbanks North Star Borough; one in the Nome census area; one in the Northwest Arctic District; eight in the Bethel census area; one in Bristol Bay plus neighborhoods in the lake and peninsula; and five in the Kusilvak census area.
Four cases were reported Tuesday among non-residents, including one in Anchorage, one in Sitka, one in Unalaska and one in Bethel.
Although people can be tested more than once, each case reported by the state health department represents only one person.
The state’s data does not determine whether people who are positive for COVID-19 have symptoms. According to CDC estimates, more than half of the country’s infections are transmitted by asymptomatic people.
The positive percentage of the nationwide test on Tuesday was 4.4% above a seven-day average. Health officials say anything above 5% could indicate inadequate testing and widespread community transmission. The state peaked at more than 9% in November.