A new COVID-19-related death was reported on Friday, involving a resident of Anchorage. In total, 302 Alaskans and four non-residents with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic hit the state in March. Alaska’s per capita mortality rate is still among the lowest in the country, but the size of the state and the vulnerable health system complicate national comparisons.
Although the case count and hospitalizations in Alaska remain well below what they were during the peak in November and December, the overall decline in cases has stabilized in recent weeks, and many regions of the state are still in the highest alert category based on its current rate of infection rate per capita. The Matanuska-Susitna neighborhood currently has the highest two-week case rate in the state, with 39.74 cases per 100,000.
Public health officials continue to encourage Alaskans to monitor personal virus mitigation efforts, such as washing their hands, wearing masks, socializing and testing if they are symptomatic or exposed to someone with COVID-19.
As of Friday, there were 32 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state, well below a peak in late 2020. Another four patients had pending test results.
On Friday, 187,069 people – about 26% of the Alaskan population – received at least their first vaccine, according to the state’s vaccine monitoring panel. This is above the national average of 19%. At least 128,434 people received both doses of the vaccine.
Of the 112 cases identified among Alaskan residents on Friday, there were 38 in Anchorage, four more in Chugiak and two in Eagle River; one in Homer; two in Kenai; one in Soldotna; one in Kodiak; five in Fairbanks; six at Delta Junction; three on Big Lake; eight in Palmer; and 38 in Wasilla.
Among the smaller communities not named to protect individuals’ privacy, there was one in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area; one at North Slope Borough; and one in the Kusilvak census area.
There was also a new case of non-resident identified 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.
Of all tests carried out last week, 2.52% were positive.
Note: the state no longer updates its coronavirus panel over the weekend and instead includes that data in Monday’s report.