The deaths, all of which have been assessed in recent months as a result of death certificates, relate to a woman from Soldotna and a man and woman from the Yukon-Kuskokwim region. All were 80 or older, state health officials say.
The three cases are the first time Alaska has counted probable deaths based on COVID-19 clinical and epidemiological criteria rather than a laboratory result, officials said in a statement Monday. “Counted deaths include deaths where the medical profession outlines COVID-19 as part of the logical sequence of causes that led to death.”
The practice brings the state in line with the Council’s state and territorial epidemiologists’ standards as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, officials say.
A total of 217 Alaskans and one non-resident of COVID-19 have died since the pandemic hit the state in March. Alaska’s overall death toll per capita is among the lowest in the country, but officials believe the state’s large geography and vulnerable health care system make it difficult to compare with other states.
The daily number of cases in the state declined from high levels in November and early December when the number of people dying from the virus also rose. The number of hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 has increased, prompting Anchorage to move into a month-changing phase during December, after which fewer infections were reported.
The number of hospitalizations associated with viruses declined from high levels in early December. Seventy-five people with COVID-19 were in the hospital on Monday and it is suspected that another 14 people in the hospital had the virus, the health department said.
Of the 227 new infections reported in Alaska residents Monday, 81 were in Anchorage, plus two in Chugiak, 11 in Eagle River and one in Girdwood; two at Anchor Point, three at Homer, three at Kenai, one at Soldotna and six at Sterling; two in Kodiak; 14 in Fairbanks and four in the North Pole; one in Big Lake, 13 in Palmer, 30 in Wasilla and one in Willow; one in Nome; one in Haines; one in Petersburg; 17 in Bethel; one in Chevak and one in Hooper Bay.
Among communities smaller than 1,000 people not named for privacy, there was one in the Copper River area; four in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area; one in the census area of Nome; two in the North Slope City; 10 in Bethel Census Area; 12 in Kusilvak Census Area.
Five cases were reported in non-residents Monday, including two in Anchorage and three people with the place under investigation.
Although people can be tested more than once, each case reported by the state health department represents only one person.
It is not clear how many people who tested positive for the virus show symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about a third of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic.
The positive percentage of the nationwide test on Monday was 5.19% above a seven-day average. Health officials say anything above 5% could indicate inadequate testing and widespread community transmission. The state peaked at more than 9% in November.