A total of 228 Alaskans and one non-resident with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic reached the state in March, including 23 deaths reported since January 1. Alaska’s per capita mortality rate is one of the lowest in the country, although the state’s size and vulnerable health care system make national comparisons difficult.
By Saturday, 54 people with COVID-19 had been hospitalized around Alaska, and according to the state health department, four more patients were suspected of having the virus. Hospitalizations decreased to less than half the numbers reported during a peak in November and early December.
While the cases of COVID-19 have been declining over the past few weeks, they are starting to flatten and the state remains in a high alert state.
In Anchorage, while the number of cases and hospitalizations has stabilized, they have done so at levels of concern, according to Janet Johnston, an epidemiologist at the Anchorage Health Department. This pattern is similar to a pattern the city saw in October, just before a major increase in business.
‘It’s a huge improvement, but I want people to keep in mind that it’s a virus level that’s high in the community, and that means if we start to see an increase in transmission rate, we could be where we were very fast, ”Johnston said in a video message on Friday.
Vaccines reached Alaska in mid-December. As of the latest update on Friday, 43,992 people have received their first dose of vaccine and 10,954 according to the state panel for vaccine monitoring, both doses are needed to be fully effective.
Government officials said this week the state has awarded the vaccine received for December and January, but there are still appointments and major clinics taking place in the coming days and weeks.
For more information, the public can visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 and leave a message. According to a survey, calls will be returned in the order within 48 hours, but users report longer delays.
Of the 190 new cases reported among residents, there were 56 in Anchorage, five in Chugiak, three in Eagle River and one in Girdwood; 21 in Wasilla; 13 in Palmer; 10 in Fairbanks; nine in Bethel; seven in the North Pole; five in Soldotna; five in Kodiak; four in Utqiagvik; three in Unalaska; two in Kenai; one in Big Lake; one in Nome; one in Kotzebue; and one in Juneau.
Among communities smaller than 1,000 people not named for privacy protection, there were 15 in the Kusilvak census area; 11 in the Bethel census area; nine in the North Slope City; two in the northern district of Kenai Peninsula; two in the Yukon-Koyukuk census area; one in the Copper River region; one in the Fairbanks North Star Borough; and one in the Northwest Arctic Borough.
Five non-residents tested positive for COVID-19: two in Wasilla, one in the Northwest North Pole area, one in Juneau and one in an unknown location.
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 positive percentage of the whole world test from Saturday was 3.53% over 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.