Coronavirus cases in Alaska have been steadily declining over the past few months following a surge of infections in November and early December that limited hospital capacity.
Hospitalizations in Alaska are now less than a quarter of what they were during November and December. By Friday, there were 33 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state, including four on ventilators. Another the patient is suspected to have the virus.
The COVID-19 vaccine reached Alaska in mid-December. According to Friday, 137,124 people – nearly 19% of Alaska’s population – received at least their first vaccine shot, according to the vaccine monitoring instrument panel. This is well above the national average of 12.4%. Among Alaska’s 16 and older, 24% received at least one dose of vaccination by Friday. The Pfizer vaccine is approved for use by people 16 years and older, and Moderna’s has been cleared for use by people 18 and older.
Healthcare workers and nursing home staff and residents were the first people to receive the vaccine. Alaskans older than 65 were eligible in early January, and the state last week further extended admission requirements to educators, people 50 and older with high-risk medical conditions, essential workers 50 and older and people living in congregations. living or working institutions such as shelters and prisons.
Those eligible to receive the vaccine can visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 to sign up and be eligible. The telephone line is on weekdays 09: 00-18: 30 and on weekends 09: 00-16: 30.
Despite the small print, public health officials continue to encourage Alaskans to keep up with personal virus mitigation efforts such as hand washing, wearing masks and social distances. An extremely contagious variant of the virus reached Alaska in December.
Of the 185 cases reported among Alaska residents Friday, there were 59 in Anchorage plus one in Chugiak and five in Eagle River; two in Kenai; one in Soldotna; one in Kodiak; 18 in Fairbanks plus one in the North Pole; one in Big Lake; 11 in Palmer; one in Sutton-Alpine; 38 in Wasilla; two in Utqiagvik; ses in Juneau; 15 in Ketchikan; one in Petersburg; two in Sitka; one in Wrangell; one in Unalaska; and one in Dillingham.
Among communities with a population below 1,000 that were not named for privacy, there were three in the Copper River census area; one in the southern district of Kenai Peninsula; three in the Yukon-Koyukuk census area; one in the region of Yakutat plus Hoonah Angoon; and nine in the Bethel census area;
Twenty-five cases were also identified among non-residents: one in Anchorage, one in Fairbanks, one in Juneau and 22 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.
Of all the tests done in the past seven days, an average of 2.27% returned positive.