The latest count follows more than a month of declining cases. Alaska saw an outbreak of infections in November and early December that hampered the hospital’s capacity. For the first time since September, the daily case count dropped to double digits twice last week.
Despite lower numbers throughout January, Alaska is 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 mitigation efforts. viruses, like washing your hands and wearing masks and social detachment.
Hospitalizations dropped along with cases, and are now less than a third from where they were during the peak in November and December. As of Thursday, there were 41 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state. Two other patients were considered to be carriers of the virus, and ten patients with COVID-19 were on ventilation.
The COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Alaska in mid-December. On Thursday, 99,814 – nearly 14% of Alaska’s total population – received at least their first vaccine, according to the state’s vaccine monitoring panel. This is well above the national average of 8.2%.
Health professionals and employees of nursing homes and residents were the first people prioritized to receive the vaccine. In early January, the state said Alaskans over 65 are now eligible, although nomination slots are limited and filled quickly.
Thousands of new vaccine appointments were posted on the state’s website last week, many of which are still available. Seniors and other qualified healthcare professionals can call 907-646-3322 for assistance in making an appointment.
Of the 158 cases announced among Alaskan residents on Thursday, 31 were in Anchorage, two more in Chugiak and two in Eagle River; one in Kenai; 16 in Fairbanks plus four at the North Pole; 14 in Palmer; 18 in Wasilla; one in Nome; one in Douglas; three at Juneau; two in Ketchikan; one in Petersburg; one in Sitka; one in Unalaska; nine at Bethel; and one in Dillingham.
Among communities with populations under 1,000 unidentified to protect privacy, there were two in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area; one at North Slope Borough; 28 in the Bethel Census Area; two in the Dillingham census area; and 17 in the Kusilvak Census Area.
There were also 26 cases among non-residents in Anchorage, including 23 in the Aleutian East Census Area, two in Unalaska and one in an unidentified region 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.