Overall, the latest daily count continues a trend in Alaska of declining infections 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.
However, the fishing industry is still struggling with outbreaks. On Tuesday, 35 new cases were reported in non-residents of Unalaska, a fishing boat and a center for processing plants where seasonal workers often come from outside the state.
The state reported the death of an 80-year-old Anchorage woman and a Wasilla man in his 60s who died outside the state.
By Tuesday, 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 Tuesday, 157,521 people – about 21.6% of Alaska’s total population – received at least their first vaccine shot, according to the state vaccine monitoring panel. This is well above the national average of 15.3%.
Among Alaskans aged 16 and over, nearly 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.
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 can now be vaccinated by the Southcentral Foundation, the health care organization announced Monday.
Despite the small print, most regions in Alaska are still in the highest alert category based on the current per capita infection rate, and public health officials are encouraging Alaskans to continue their efforts to mitigate personal viruses such as hand washing, masking and socializing. 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 124 cases identified in Alaska residents, 39 were in Anchorage plus two in Chugiak; one in Cordova; one in Homer, one in Kenai and one in Soldotna; 10 in Fairbanks and two in the North Pole; one in Tok; 10 in Palmer, one in Sutton-Alpine and 25 in Wasilla; one in Utqiagvik; one in Juneau; one in Ketchikan; ses in Petersburg; three in Sitka; and one in Dillingham.
Among communities smaller than 1,000 that did not mention their privacy, there was one in the Prince of Wales-Hyder census area; one in Yakutat plus Hoonah-Angoon; seven in Bethel census area; and eight in the Kusilvak census area.
There were also 35 new cases without residents, all seafood workers: 34 in Unalaska and one in Aleutians East Borough. The city of Unalaska reports 34 active cases as of Tuesday, all related to the seafood industry. A decline in cases has still led the city to lower the local risk factor to ‘medium’ and the city council will consider easing the COVID-19 health mandates at a meeting on Wednesday.
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.
The average percentage of daily positive tests during the past week was 2.25%.