Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 50 new cases, all in residents

Kelly Frantz, of Capstone Family Medicine, packages a COVID-19 test at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in June. (Marc Lester / ADN)

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The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reported 50 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, all in residents.

There were no new cases reported in nonresidents, a category that reflects visitors but also workers in mining, seafood and other industries.

The state has confirmed a total of 5,110 cases of the disease in Alaska since the pandemic began here in March -- 4,309 in residents and 801 in nonresidents.

Of the resident cases,175 or about 4% have become ill enough to require hospitalization. A total of 4 nonresidents have been hospitalized with the virus, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.

There were no new deaths related to the novel coronavirus reported Monday. Twenty-eight Alaskans have died with the virus. The state’s death rate -- 4 per 100,000 -- is the second lowest in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

There were 32 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 around the state as of Monday afternoon, a decline from 38 previously, and one additional patient under investigation for the virus.

The state also announced Monday that all 47 crew members on a state ferry with positive cases aboard tested negative for COVID-19.

Last week, the Alaska Marine Highway System cancelled the Aug. 14 voyage of the state ferry Matanuska after five passengers who boarded in Kake tested positive for the virus. All five were travelling together, officials said. The crew were tested in Bellingham, Washington Friday.

The ferry will resume scheduled service on Friday from Bellingham, officials said.

Of the new cases reported Monday, it wasn’t clear how many were showing symptoms of the virus when they tested positive.

Thirty-six of the new cases involve Anchorage residents.

Fourteen other cases were reported around the state: 1 in Kenai; 4 in Fairbanks; 1 in a smaller community in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area; 2 in Wasilla; 1 in Nome and 1 in a smaller community in the Nome Census Area; 1 in Utqiagvik; 1 in Juneau; and 2 in a smaller community in the Bethel Census Area.

As of Monday, there were 3,650 people infected with coronavirus in Alaska. Another 1,432 residents and nonresidents are presumed recovered and out of isolation.

The state’s testing positivity rate reported Monday was 1.71% over a 7-day rolling average.

— Zaz Hollander