The deaths involved a woman from Kodiak and a man from Soldotna, state officials said. Both were in their 70s.
Although higher than those reported in previous days, Wednesday’s figures are part of a trend of fewer cases reported in recent weeks, after a sudden increase from November to the beginning of December. Coronavirus-related hospitalizations are also declining. Health officials say a reduction order in Anchorage that is moving to a less restrictive phase on Friday played a role in the decline, as did voluntary actions taken by people across the state.
In total, 202 Alaskans and a non-resident with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic started here in March. Alaska’s overall death rate per capita is among the lowest in the country, but officials say the state’s vast geography and vulnerable health system make comparison with other states difficult.
Alaska received its first shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine in mid-December. Hospital health workers, emergency personnel and residents and employees in long-term care facilities were prioritized to receive the first doses. State officials are expected to announce the next phase of vaccine distribution on Thursday.
Across the state, 69 Alaskans with COVID-19 were hospitalized on Wednesday and another four were suspected of having the virus. Almost 10% of adults in Alaskan hospitals have COVID-19.
Hospitalizations have declined across the state in recent weeks. In Anchorage, where the sickest patients are often treated, there were 14 intensive care unit beds available in 65, placing this indicator in the red zone that indicates capacity below 25%.
Of the 368 infections reported on Wednesday among Alaskan residents, there were 113 in Anchorage, four more in Chugiak and 29 in Eagle River; one in Kenai, one in Nikiski and four in Soldotna; 12 in Kodiak; five in Córdoba; 23 at Fairbanks and four at the North Pole; one in Tok; two on Big Lake, 25 on Palmer, 69 on Wasilla and one on Willow; one in Nome; eight in Utqiagvik; five in Juneau; three in Ketchikan; two in Unalaska; 14 at Bethel; and three in Chevak.
Among communities with fewer than 1,000 unnamed people to protect privacy, there was one in the southern Kenai Peninsula; five in the Chugach census area; two in the Copper River Census Area; two at Fairbanks North Star Borough; one in the Southeast Fairbanks census area; one in the Yukon-Koyukuk census area; one in the Name Census Area; three at North Slope Borough; one in the Prince of Wales-Hyder census area; 19 in the Bethel Census Area; and two in the Dillingham census area.
There have been six cases reported among non-residents, including two in Anchorage, one in Soldotna and three in places 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 of the people who tested positive for the virus had symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that about a third of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic.
The positivity rate for the test across the state on Wednesday was 4.82% over an average of seven days. Health experts say that anything above 5% can indicate inadequate testing and potentially widespread transmission in the community. The state peaked at more than 9% test positivity in mid-November.