More than half of the resident cases were confirmed in the Matanuska-Susitna neighborhood, which has one of the highest infection rates in the state in the past two weeks.
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 Friday, 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 to be fully vaccinated.
As of Friday, there were 27 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state, far below the peak in late 2020. Three other patients had pending test results.
Of the 179 cases identified among Alaskan residents on Friday, there were 49 in Anchorage and six more in Eagle River; 61 in Wasilla; 27 in Palmer; five at Delta Junction; four on Big Lake; four in Healy; two in Valdez; two in Kenai; two in Fairbanks; two at the North Pole; two in Sitka; one in Houston; one in Sutton-Alpine; one in Juneau; one in Unalaska; and one at Bethel.
Among communities with fewer than 1,000 residents who were not appointed to protect privacy, there were three in the Yukon-Koyukuk census area, one in the Copper River census area and two in the Matanuska-Susitna neighborhood.
There were also four cases of non-residents: two in Kodiak and two in indeterminate parts of the state.
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%.