Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 185 cases reported Sunday, the lowest daily case count since October

Alaska on Sunday reported 185 new COVID-19 cases — the lowest daily number of new infections reported since October. No new deaths were reported by the Department of Health and Social Services.

During the last week, the number of COVID-19 cases reported daily decreased significantly, although they are still higher than they were in spring, summer and early fall. Sunday’s case count is the lowest reported since Oct. 14, when there were 153 new infections. In late November and early December, case numbers reached an unprecedented statewide high.

The sharp uptick in cases led to increased concern from health officials about hospital capacity and staffing.

By Sunday, there were 121 people with COVID-19 in Alaska hospitals and another six people in the hospital were suspected to be infected. Statewide, 38 intensive care unit beds were available as of Sunday.

In Anchorage hospitals, where the sickest patients are often treated, less than 25% of all beds remained open Sunday. Of the 603 regular inpatient beds, 103 were available. Eleven intensive care unit beds remained available out of 69.

In total, 183 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 began a statewide vaccination effort during the last week. The state received more than 35,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and administered it to hundreds of health care workers, emergency personnel and long-term care facility residents and staff. More Alaskans will be vaccinated in the coming weeks.

Even as the vaccinations begin and case numbers have again decreased, health officials still recommend basic disease prevention, including wearing a mask, social distancing and hand washing. The current decrease in case numbers comes weeks after Anchorage returned to a “hunker down” state for the month of December.

Of the 180 cases reported in Alaska residents Sunday, 88 were in Anchorage, three in Chugiak, 18 in Eagle River and one in Girdwood; six were in Homer, eight in Kenai, six in Soldotna and two in Sterling; six were in Fairbanks and two in North Pole; six were in Palmer, one in Sutton Alpine and four in Wasilla; six were in Utqiagvik; one was in Kotzebue; two were in Juneau; one was in Sitka; one was in Wrangell; and13 were in Bethel.

Among communities smaller than 1,000 people not named to protect privacy, there was one case in the northern portion of the Kenai Peninsula Borough; one was in the North Slope Borough; one was in the Northwest Arctic Borough; one was in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area; and one was in the Bethel Census Area.

Five nonresidents contracted COVID-19, including one in Anchorage, one in Kodiak and three classified as unknown by the state health department.

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 estimates about a third of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic.

The statewide tests positivity rate was 4.73% over the last week. The state reached a peak of over 9% positivity in mid-November. Health officials say a positivity rate above 5% can indicate inadequate testing and potentially widespread community transmission.

- Tess Williams