The latest score follows a month’s decline in cases. Alaska experienced an increase in infections in November and early December that limited the capacity of the hospital. For the first time since September, the daily number of cases doubled last week.
Hospitalizations have coincided with cases and are now less than a third of the places where they were during the peak in November and December. By Friday, there were 40 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state. It is believed that three more patients have the virus.
The COVID-19 vaccine reached Alaska in mid-December. By Thursday, 101,631 – nearly 14% of Alaska’s total population – had received at least their first vaccine shot, according to the state panel for vaccine monitoring. This is well above the national average of 8.4%.
Among Alaska 16s and older, 18% received at least one dose of vaccination by Friday. The Pfizer vaccine is approved for use in people 16 years and older, and Moderna’s has been cleared for use in people 18 and older.
Healthcare workers, staff and nursing homes and residents were the first people to receive the vaccine. In early January, the state said Alaskans over the age of 65 are now eligible, although appointment slots are limited and quickly filled.
Thousands of new vaccine appointments were made available on the state’s website last week, many of which are still available. Elderly and other eligible health care professionals can call 907-646-3322 for help making an appointment.
Despite the small numbers during January, Alaska is still in the highest alert category, based on the current per capita infection rate, and public health officials are urging Alaskans to continue efforts to mitigate the virus, such as hand washing, wearing masks. and social distance.
Of the 163 cases announced Friday among Alaska residents, 41 were in Anchorage plus three in Eagle River; one in Anchor Point; one in Seward; one in Soldotna; one in Cordova; 13 in Fairbanks plus one in the North Pole; one in Delta Junction; 17 in Palmer; 33 in Wasilla; ses in Juneau; four in Ketchikan; one in Sitka; and six in Bethel.
Among communities with a population below 1,000 not named for privacy, there were two in the Matanuska-Susitna district, one in the Aleutians district; 23 in the Bethel census area; one in the Dillingham census area; and six in the Kusilvak census area.
There were also 87 cases among non-residents in Alaska, including two in Anchorage, 80 in the eastern city of Aleut; and five 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.