Tuesday’s case count continues a downward trend in the number of infections, after a peak in November and early December that caused concern about the hospital’s capacity. On Monday, the daily case count dropped to double digits for the first time since September.
Still, despite declining case numbers, Alaska remains in the highest alert category based on its current infection rate per capita.
Hospitalizations also continued to fall, and are now about a third where they were during the state’s peak in November and December. As of Tuesday, there were 56 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state. Another patient was suspected of having the virus. Five COVID-positive people were on ventilators.
Health professionals, nursing home staff and residents were the first people to receive the vaccination. In early January, the state said adults over 65 were now eligible, although the hours available were limited and filled quickly.
The new vaccination appointments for February will go live on the state’s vaccination website (covidvax.alaska.gov) from noon on Thursday.
The number of consultations available will depend on the amount of vaccine the state receives in February and is open to adults aged 65 and over. The new appointments will begin on February 4.
For more information on vaccination appointments, visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 and leave a message. A recording says that calls will be returned in the order they were received within 48 hours, but some users have reported longer delays. State officials said that starting this week, those calls will be answered live.
Of the 86 cases reported in Alaskan residents on Tuesday, there were 20 in Anchorage, one more in Chugiak and three in Eagle River; one in Homer; one at Seward; one in Soldotna; one in Córdoba; seven in Fairbanks; one at the North Pole; one on Big Lake; four in Palmer; two at Sutton-Alpine; 12 in Wasilla; one in Kotzebue; one in Haines; five in Juneau; two in Unalaska; and four at Bethel.
Among communities with populations under 1,000 unidentified to protect privacy, there was one in the Nome Census Area; one in the Prince of Wales and Hyder census area; 11 in the Bethel Census Area; and five in the Kusilvak census area.
Three cases have been reported in non-residents in Unalaska.
Although people can be tested more than once, each case reported by the state health department represents only one person.
State data does not specify whether people who test positive for COVID-19 have symptoms. More than half of the country’s infections are transmitted by asymptomatic people, according to CDC estimates.
Last week, 3.07% of all tests completed across the state were positive.