State data showed the death of an Anchorage resident was involved. A total of 225 Alaskans 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, 61 people with COVID-19 were admitted to the hospital by Wednesday, and according to the state, seven more patients were suspected of having the virus. Hospitalizations have declined drastically since the high numbers were reported in November and early December.
The state’s daily number of cases has also dropped significantly in recent weeks, but the alert level across the country is still high.
Vaccines reached Alaska in mid-December. According to Wednesday, 35,853 people received their first dose of vaccine, while 7,965 received both doses needed to make the vaccine work effectively.
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 288 new cases reported among Alaska residents Wednesday, 81 were in Anchorage plus 12 in Eagle River and one in Girdwood; 39 in Fairbanks; 19 in Bethel; 18 in Wasilla; eight in Palmer; seven in the North Pole; seven in Petersburg; ses in Ketchikan; four in Kodiak; four in Unalaska; three in Kenai; three in Nome; two in Utqiagvik; two in Delta Junction; one in Homer; one in Seward; one in Soldotna; one in Sterling; one in Cordova; one in Valdez; one in Kotzebue; one in Juneau; one in Sitka; one in Hooper Bay; and one in an unidentified region of the state.
Among communities of less than 1,000 people not named for privacy, there were 27 in the Bethel census area; seven in the North Slope City; seven in the Kusil subject census area; six in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area; three in the northern district of Kenai Peninsula; three in the Fairbanks North Star Borough; three in the Northwest Arctic Borough; one in the southern district of Kenai Peninsula; one in the town of Kodiak Island; one in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area; one in the Denali district; and one in the Prince of Wales and Hyder census area.
Eight cases were reported Wednesday among non-residents, including three in Juneau, two in Fairbanks, one in Anchorage, one in Kenai and one in an unknown region of the state.
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 global test on Wednesday was 4.06% above an average of seven days. Health officials say anything above 5% could indicate inadequate testing and widespread community transmission. The state peaked at more than 9% in November.