Tuesday’s numbers followed Monday’s low count of 126 cases, part of a trend of fewer cases reported in recent weeks after a surge through November into early December. Coronavirus-related hospitalizations are also declining. Health officials say a hunker-down order in Anchorage played a role in the decline, as did voluntary actions taken by people around the state.
Death is a lagging indicator, meaning they often happen after a surge in cases, and half of Alaska’s virus deaths were reported in the last six weeks.
The new death reported Tuesday was of an Anchorage resident, state data showed. In total, 200 Alaskans and one nonresident with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic began here in March. Alaska’s overall death rate per capita is among the lowest in the country, but officials say the state’s vast geography and vulnerable health care system make it difficult to compare with other states.
Alaska received its first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine in mid-December. Hospital health care workers, emergency personnel and residents and staff at long-term care facilities were prioritized to receive the first doses. A state committee will vote Tuesday who to include in the next round of vaccines.
By Tuesday, 72 Alaskans with COVID-19 were hospitalized and another nine were suspected to have the virus. Nearly 9% of adults in Alaska hospitals have COVID-19.
Hospitalizations have decreased statewide within the last few weeks. In Anchorage, where the sickest patients are often treated, on Tuesday there were 18 intensive care unit beds available out of 68.
Of the 210 infections reported Tuesday in Alaska residents, there were 64 in Anchorage, plus two in Chugiak and 33 in Eagle River; one in Kenai; one in Seward; three in Soldotna; eight in Kodiak; 23 in Fairbanks plus six in North Pole; two in Delta Junction; one in Tok; one in Big Lake; 13 in Palmer; 28 in Wasilla; one in Utqiagvik; three in Ketchikan; one in Craig; one in Sitka; three in Bethel; and one in Dillingham.
Among communities smaller than 1,000 people not named to protect privacy, there were two in the northern Kenai Peninsula Borough; three in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area; one in the Nome Census Area; one in the North Slope Borough; one in the Northwest Arctic Borough; two in the Bethel Census Area; and four in the Dillingham Census Area.
There were seven cases reported in nonresidents, including four in Anchorage and three in an unidentified region of the state.
While people might get tested more than once, each case reported by the state health department represents only one person.
It is not clear how many of the people who tested positive for the virus were showing symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about a third of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic.
The statewide test positivity rate as of Tuesday was 4.56% over a 7-day average. Health experts say anything above 5% can indicate inadequate testing and potentially widespread community transmission. The state reached a peak of over 9% test positivity in mid-November.
— Annie Berman
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Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 200th death and 217 new infections reported Tuesday - Anchorage Daily News
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