The death reported Saturday was a Fairbanks resident, the state’s data showed.
The number of people hospitalized with the virus has decreased slightly from Friday to Saturday from 82 to 79 people who are sick enough to need care across the country. Five more people admitted to hospital are awaiting the test results.
A total of 223 Alaskans and one non-resident with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic reached 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.
Alaska recently began adding probable deaths of people with the virus, as determined by medical providers, in addition to those determined by a laboratory result.
The state’s daily numbers in recent weeks have fallen sharply since a surge that lasted from November to early December. But health officials continue to express concern about an increase in holidays in new cases, noting that the state’s alert level is still high.
The state continues with the early deployment of COVID-19 vaccine, but most Alaskans will not be eligible for many months.
Vaccinations for vaccines are made at covidvax.alaska.gov or by calling 907-646-3322, leaving a message and waiting for a call back from an operator.
Of the 370 new infections reported among Alaska residents on Saturday, there were 119 new cases in Anchorage, plus 14 in Eagle River, eight in Chugiak and one in Girdwood; 51 in Fairbanks; 39 in Wasilla; 14 in Palmer; 13 in the North Pole; 11 in Kenai; nege in Soldotna; eight in Bethel; five in Kodiak; three in Seward; three in Utqiagvik; three in Ketchikan; two in Unalaska; two in Hooper Bay; one in Sterling; one in Cordova; one in Houston; one in Nome; one in Sitka; one in Nikiski; one in Anchor Point; one in Homer; and one in Dillingham.
Among communities smaller than 1,000 people not named for privacy protection, there were 15 in the Northwest Arctic Borough; 11 in the Kusilvak census area; eight in the Fairbanks North Star Borough; eight in the Bethel census area; five in the North Slope City; two in the Matanuska-Susitna district; one in the northern district of Kenai Peninsula; one in the Copper River region; one in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area; one in the Yukon-Koyukuk census area; one in the Nome census area; one in the combined region of Yakutat and Hoonah-Angoon; and one in the Dillingham census area.
Eight cases were reported among non-residents on Saturday: one in Bethel and seven in places that have yet to be determined.
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 whole world test from Saturday was 4.66% 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.