Although the number of cases and hospitalizations in Alaska was lower than it was during a peak in November and December, the state’s average daily case rate has been trending upward over the past few weeks. Most regions in the state are still in the highest alert category based on their current infection rate per capita.
Health officials are urging Alaskans to wear face masks in public, avoid large gatherings, wash their hands regularly and be vaccinated against COVID-19 to prevent further spread.
In March, Alaska became the first state in the country to be eligible for vaccine for anyone 16 years and older living or working in the state. You can visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 to sign up for a vaccine appointment; new appointments are added regularly. The telephone line is manned on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:30 and on weekends from 09:00 to 16:30.
By Friday, 266,036 people – about 44% of Alaskans eligible for a shot – had received at least their first dose, according to the state vaccine monitoring panel. At least 203,259 people – just over a third of Alaska’s 16 and older – are considered fully vaccinated.
By Friday, there were 51 people with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 in hospitals across the state, well below a peak at the end of 2020, but part of a slight increase over the past few weeks.
Of the 241 cases reported in Alaska residents Friday, there were 82 cases in Anchorages plus three in Chugiak and seven in Eagle River; ses in Valdez; one in Homer; three in Kenai; one in Seward; five in Soldotna; one in Sterling; one in Kodiak; 25 in Fairbanks plus eight in the North Pole and one in Salcha; two in Delta Junction; three in Big Lake; three in Houston; 22 in Palmer; 43 in Wasilla; two in Willow; two in Nome; one in Douglas; four in Juneau; one in Ketchikan; one in Wrangell; and one in Unalaska.
Among communities smaller than 1,000 people not named for privacy, there was one in the northern Kenai Peninsula district; one in the southern district of Kenai Peninsula; three in the Yukon-Koyukuk census area; one in the Mat-Su Borough; one in the Nome census area; two in the Northwest North Pole area; and two in the Dillingham census area.
Eight new cases were also reported in non-residents: three in Wasilla and five in unknown regions of the state.
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 tests conducted in the past week, 3.17% returned positive.
Note: the state no longer updates its coronavirus dashboard over the weekends and would rather include the numbers in Monday’s report.