Although the number of cases and hospitalizations in Alaska is much lower than it was during the peak in November and December, the overall decline in cases has been similar over the past few weeks and many regions of the state are still in the highest alert category based on their current infection rate per capita.
Public health officials continue to encourage Alaskans to keep up with personal virus mitigation efforts such as hand washing, mask wear, social distance and to be tested if it is symptomatic or exposed to someone with COVID-19.
By Tuesday, there were 32 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state, well below a peak at the end of 2020. Five more patients completed the test results.
The COVID-19 vaccine reached Alaska in mid-December. Teen Tuesday 171,749 people – about a quarter of Alaska’s total population – received at least their first vaccine shot, according to the state vaccine monitoring panel. This is above the national average of 18%. At least 119,631 people received both doses of the vaccine.
Visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 to sign up for a vaccine appointment. The telephone line is manned on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:30 and on weekends from 09:00 to 16:30.
Of the 90 cases identified Tuesday among Alaska residents were 23 in Anchorage plus three in Chugiak and two in Eagle River; one in Homer; one in Kenai; one in Soldotna; five in Fairbanks; one in the North Pole; five in Palmer; 22 in Wasilla; two in Willow; two in Utqiagvik; one in Juneau; two in Petersburg; and two in Bethel.
Among communities smaller than 1,000 that were not named to protect individuals’ privacy, there were three in the Copper River census area; one in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area; and 11 in the Bethel Census Area.
There was also one new case abroad in Kotzebue.
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.