Alaska case and hospital counts remain well below what they were during the peak in November and December. However, Alaska is experiencing a slight increase in its average daily case rate compared to the past few weeks. Many regions of the state are still in the highest alert category based on the current rate of infection per capita.
This month, Alaska became the first state in the country to open vaccine eligibility to anyone aged 16 and over who lives or works in the state. You can visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 to register for a vaccination appointment; new appointments are added regularly. The telephone line is open from 9 am to 6:30 pm during the week and from 9 am to 4:30 pm on weekends.
On Thursday, 226,884 people – including more than 39% of Alaskans eligible for an injection – received at least their first dose, according to the state’s vaccine monitoring panel. At least 155,264 people – about 27% of Alaskans aged 16 and over – were considered fully vaccinated.
As of Thursday, there were 29 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state, well below the peak of late 2020. Two more patients had outstanding test results.
Of the 143 cases identified among Alaskan residents on Thursday, there were 63 in Anchorage, three more in Chugiak and nine in Eagle River; one in Cordoba; one in Kenai; six in Soldotna; one in Kodiak; one in Healy; nine in Fairbanks; one at the North Pole; three in Salcha; five at Delta Junction; one in Tok; five in Palmer; 30 in Wasilla; one in Nome; one in Sitka; and one in an unknown part of the state.
Among communities with fewer than 1,000 residents who were not appointed to protect privacy, there was one at Fairbanks North Star Borough.
There were also two new cases of non-residents in Anchorage.
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.
The average percentage of positive daily tests in the last week was 2.68%.