Overall, the latest daily count continues with a trend in declining infections in Alaska over the past three months. Hospitalizations are now far below what they were during a peak in November and December that limited the capacity of the hospital.
According to the health department, a man in his 70s in the Aleutians East Borough became involved in the seafood industry.
By Wednesday, there were 23 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state. Three more patients completed the test results.
The COVID-19 vaccine reached Alaska in mid-December. According to Wednesday, 158,680 people – about 21.7% of Alaska’s total population – received at least their first vaccine shot, according to the state panel for vaccine monitoring. This is above the national average of 15.6%.
Among Alaska 16 and older, 28% received at least one dose of vaccine. 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. At least 105,085 people received both doses of the vaccine. According to a national tracker, Alaska currently has inoculated more residents per capita than any other state.
On Wednesday, the state announced that emergency workers and people at potential high-risk health conditions aged 16 and older, as well as people living in communities that do not have water or sewerage systems, are in multigenerational homes or 55 years or older, also in eligible for the vaccine.
Healthcare workers and nursing home staff and residents were the first people to receive the vaccine. Alaskans over the age of 65 were eligible in early January, and in February the state extended the admission requirements to educators, people 50 years and older with high-risk medical conditions, essential workers 50 and older, and people living or work in collection institutions such as shelters and prisons.
Last week, officials said people who help Alaskans 65 and older get vaccinated are now eligible.
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 manned on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:30 and on weekends from 09:00 to 16:30.
In Anchorage, Alaskans 40 and older could be vaccinated by Southcentral Foundation, the health care organization announced Monday.
Despite the small print, most regions in Alaska remain in the highest alert category based on the current per capita infection rate, and public health officials encourage Alaskans to continue with personal virus mitigation efforts such as hand washing, mask wear and social distance. A highly infected British variant of the virus reached Alaska in December, while a separate variant that originated in Brazil was found in the state last month. Scientists in Alaska last week announced the discovery of ten cases of a new coronavirus strain discovered in California.
Of the 173 cases identified in Alaska residents, 47 were in Anchorage, plus three in Chugiak, three in Eagle River and one in Girdwood; two in Cordova; three in Homer; one in Kenai; one in Soldotna; 18 in Fairbanks; two in the North Pole; two in Delta Junction; one in Big Lake; 15 in Palmer; one in Sutton-Alpine; 35 in Wasilla; one in Willow; five in Juneau; 13 in Petersburg; one in Metlakatla; one in Sitka; two in Bethel; and one in Dillingham.
Among communities smaller than 1,000 that were not named to protect the privacy of individuals, there were two in the northern Kenai Peninsula district, nine in the Bethel census area and one in the Kusilvak census area.
There were also 16 new foreign affairs, of which 14 in Unalaska, including 13 among employees in the seafood industry. One case of non-residents has been reported in the Southeast Census area and one in Anchorage.
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.
[Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that 14 new nonresident cases were reported in the Aleutians East Borough. Rather, they were identified in Unalaska, within the Aleutians West Census Area.]