The most recent count continues a trend in Alaska of declining infections in the past three months. Hospitalizations are now well below what they were during a peak in November and December, which hampered the hospital’s capacity.
The fishing industry continues to fight outbreaks, however. On Tuesday, 35 new cases were registered in non-residents at Unalaska, a fishing center where seasonal workers often come from outside the state.
The state reported that the deaths of an Anchorage resident and a Wasilla resident were reported on Tuesday, according to preliminary data. It was not immediately clear whether these deaths were recent.
As of Tuesday, there were 23 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state. Another three patients had outstanding test results.
The COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Alaska in mid-December. On Tuesday, 157,521 people – about 21.6% of Alaska’s total population – received at least their first vaccine, according to the state’s vaccine monitoring panel. Much above the national average of 15.3%.
Among Alaskans aged 16 and over, nearly 28% received at least one dose of the vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for use in people aged 16 and over, and Moderna has been approved for use in people aged 18 and over. At least 105,085 people received both doses of the vaccine. Alaska currently vaccinated more residents per capita than any other state, according to a national tracker.
Health professionals, nursing home staff and residents were the first people prioritized to receive the vaccine. Alaskans over 65 became eligible in early January, and the state further expanded eligibility criteria in February to include educators, people aged 50 and over with a high-risk medical condition, essential frontline workers aged 50 and over and people who live or work in congregating environments such as shelters and prisons.
Last week, officials said people who help people aged 65 and over to get vaccinated are now eligible to receive the vaccine.
Those eligible to receive the vaccine can visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 to apply and confirm eligibility. 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.
In Anchorage, Alaskans 40 and older can now be vaccinated through the Southcentral Foundation, the health organization announced on Monday.
Despite the lower case numbers, most Alaskan regions are still in the highest alert category based on the current rate of infection per capita, and public health officials continue to encourage Alaskans to monitor personal efforts to virus mitigation, such as hand washing, masks. social wear and tear. A highly contagious variant of the virus in the UK arrived in Alaska in December, while a separate variant originating in Brazil was found in the state last month. Scientists in Alaska last week announced the discovery of 10 cases of a new coronavirus strain first discovered in California.
Of the 124 cases identified in Alaskan residents, there were 39 in Anchorage plus two in Chugiak; one in Cordoba; one in Homer, one in Kenai and one in Soldotna; 10 in Fairbanks and two at the North Pole; one in Tok; 10 in Palmer, one in Sutton-Alpine and 25 in Wasilla; one in Utqiagvik; one in Juneau; one in Ketchikan; six in Petersburg; three in Sitka; and one in Dillingham.
Among communities under 1,000 that were not named to protect their privacy, there was one in the Prince of Wales-Hyder census area; one in Yakutat plus Hoonah-Angoon; seven in the Bethel Census Area; and eight in the Kusilvak census area.
There were also 35 new cases of non-residents, 34 in Unalaska and one in Aleutians East Borough. The city of Unalaska was reporting 34 active cases there as of Tuesday, all linked to the seafood industry. Still, a decrease in cases in general has led the city to reduce its local risk factor to “medium” and the city council will consider easing COVID-19 health mandates at a meeting on Wednesday.
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 2.25%.