Teen Tuesday 195 328 people – about 27% of Alaska’s population – received at least their first vaccine shot, according to the state vaccine monitoring panel. This is above the national average of 21% of the population. At least 135 482 people – about 19% of the state population – are considered fully vaccinated.
Although the number of cases and hospitalizations in Alaska remains far lower than it was during the peak in November and December, the overall decline in cases has slowed in recent weeks, and many regions of the state are still in the highest alert category based on their current infection rate per capita.
Public health officials continue to encourage Alaskans to keep up with personal virus mitigation efforts such as hand washing, mask wear, social distance and to be tested if it is symptomatic or exposed to someone with COVID-19.
By Tuesday, there were 33 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state, well below a peak at the end of 2020. Six more patients had test results pending.
Of the 102 cases identified Tuesday among Alaska residents were 27 in Anchorage, plus four in Chugiak and two in Eagle River; three in Valdez; four in Soldotna; five in Fairbanks; three in the North Pole; two in Delta Junction; nine in Palmer; 26 in Wasilla; one in Utqiagvik; one in Juneau; and one in Unalaska.
Among smaller communities that do not protect privacy, there was one in the Copper River Census area; three in the Fairbanks North Star Borough; and 10 in the Bethel census area.
Three new cases of non-residents have also been identified: two in Anchorage and one in Unalaska.
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.