The person who died was a female North Pole resident in her forties, health officials said. A total of 260 Alaskans and two non-residents with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic reached the state in March. Alaska’s per capita mortality rate is still among the lowest in the country, but the state’s size and vulnerable health care system make national comparisons difficult.
Thursday’s case report continues with a trend of declining infection numbers to a peak in November and early December, leaving officials worried about the hospital’s capacity. For two days this week, the daily number of cases fell in double digits for the first time since September.
The reduced distribution of COVID-19 by the community has enabled commanders to recall an public health emergency that has been taking place at the Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Base since November, effective Friday 5 p.m. Officials also attributed “maintained medical ability and adequate testing ability” according to the statement on Thursday.
The base in Anchorage will transition to a less restrictive state that allows visitors to return, private gatherings of up to three family groups indoors and five family groups outdoors.
Many officials still apply, including guidelines for Department of Defense protection, physical distance, sanitation, and hygiene. Commanders will also continue to use shift-based and flexible schedules and maximize counting, if possible.
Despite declining cases in general, Alaska remains in the highest alert category based on the current per capita infection rate. And the case numbers remain high and increase in Western Alaska, where some towns have experienced significant outbreaks.
In a seven-day period that ended last Friday, the largest average increase in daily cases was seen in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region, from 136.3 to 155.8, according to a weekly summary. A smaller increase was seen in Juneau, from 7.8 to 11.8.
As of Thursday, most of the state has remained at a high alert level. The Kenai Peninsula district, city and Juneau district and North-Southeast region were at an interim warning level, while the south-southeast region dropped to a low alert level.
Hospitalizations have also continued to decline and are now less than a third of where they were during the state peak in November and December. By Thursday, there were 41 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state, and one patient suspected of having the virus. Five COVID-positive patients were on ventilators.
Healthcare workers and nursing home staff and residents were the first people to receive the vaccination. In early January, the state said that adults older than 65 are now eligible, although appointment slots are limited and filled quickly.
For more information on vaccinations, visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 for help making an appointment.
Of the 178 cases reported among Alaska residents Thursday, there were 44 in Anchorage plus one in Chugiak and three in Eagle River; three in Homer, two in Kenai, two in Seward and one in Soldotna; one in Kodiak; one in Cordova; 19 in Fairbanks and six in the North Pole; one in Big Lake, one in Sutton-Alpine, 13 in Wasilla and one in Willow; one in Douglas and one in Juneau; two in Ketchikan; one in Sitka; five in Unalaska; and eight in Bethel.
Among communities with a population of less than 1,000 people not named for privacy, there were one in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, four in the Yukon-Koyukuk census area, one in the North Slope Borough, one in the Yakutat plus Hoonah -Angoon region, six in the Aleutians East Borough, 38 in the Bethel census area, four in the Dillingham census area and six in the Kusilvak census area.
Six non-residents also tested positive: one in Anchorage, one in Fairbanks, one in the Eastern District of Aleutians and three 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.
In the past week, 2.87% of all tests completed across the country returned positive.