Monday’s number of cases comes as infections have declined in recent weeks. The state peaked at infections in November and early December, prompting officials to worry about hospital capacity and an order for the Anchorage Municipality.
By Monday, there were 54 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state and four more patients suspected of having the virus. Eight of the people were on ventilators, the health department said. Hospitalizations are about half of where they were during the peak in November and December.
A total of 228 Alaskans and one non-resident with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic reached the state in March, including 23 deaths reported since January 1. Alaska’s per capita mortality rate is one of the lowest in the country, although the state’s size and vulnerable health care system make national comparisons difficult.
Despite the decline in cases, Alaska remains in high alert status.
Vaccines arrived in the state in mid-December, and by Monday, nearly 44,000 people had received their first dose, according to the state vaccine monitoring panel. Nearly 12,000 people received the second dose.
Healthcare workers and nursing home staff and residents were the first group to receive the vaccinations. Earlier this month, the state opened the vaccines to adults over the age of 65, although the appointment slots were limited and filled quickly when the scheduling window opened.
For more information on getting vaccinated, the public can visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 and leave a message. According to a survey, calls will be returned within 48 hours, but some users have reported longer delays.
Of the 149 cases reported Monday in Alaska residents, 49 were in Anchorage and two in Eagle River; two were in Homer, four in Kenai, one in Nikiski and five in Soldotna; five were in Kodiak; a wax in Cordova; 10 were in Fairbanks and three in the North Pole; a wax in Delta Junction; one was in Palmer, 12 in Wasilla and two in Willow; a wax in Nome; three were in Utqiagvik; two were in Juneau; a wax in Petersburg; one was in Sitka; one was in Wrangell; and three were in Bethel.
Among communities with a population below 1,000 that were not named to protect privacy, there was one in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area; one was in the Matanuska-Susitna district; two were in the North Slope City; 12 were in the Northwest North Pole area; 12 were in the Bethel census area; one was in Bristol Bay plus the districts in the lake and the peninsula; and 10 were in the Kusilvak census area.
Four non-residents tested positive for the virus, including two in Anchorage, one in Nome and one in Juneau.
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 test on Monday was 3.41% over 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.