Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 2 deaths, 374 new infections reported Wednesday

Alaska on Wednesday reported 374 new COVID-19 infections and two deaths, according to the Department of Health and Social Services.

The deaths involved a woman from Kodiak and a man from Soldotna, state officials say. They were both in their 70s.

While higher than those reported in prior days, Wednesday’s numbers were 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 that’s moving to a less restrictive phase Friday played a role in the decline, as did voluntary actions taken by people around the state.

In total, 202 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. State officials are expected to announce the next phase of vaccine allocations on Thursday.

[Hundreds of Alaskans submit comments on who should be included in next phase of COVID-19 vaccinations]

By Wednesday morning, 13,271 Alaskans had received vaccinations, according to the state’s vaccine information site, which lags slightly behind real time.

Around the state, 69 Alaskans with COVID-19 were hospitalized as of Wednesday and another four were suspected to have the virus. Nearly 10% 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, there were 14 intensive care unit beds available out of 65, putting that indicator into the red zone that indicates capacity less than 25%.

Of the 368 infections reported Wednesday among Alaska residents, there were 113 in Anchorage, plus four in Chugiak and 29 in Eagle River; one in Kenai, one in Nikiski, and four in Soldotna; 12 in Kodiak; five in Cordova; 23 in Fairbanks and four in North Pole; one in Tok; two in Big Lake, 25 in Palmer, 69 in Wasilla and one in Willow; one in Nome; eight in Utqiagvik; five in Juneau; three in Ketchikan; two in Unalaska; 14 in Bethel; and three in Chevak.

Among communities smaller than 1,000 people not named to protect privacy, there was one on the southern Kenai Peninsula; five in the Chugach Census Area; two in the Copper River Census Area; two in the Fairbanks North Star Borough; one in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area; one in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area; one in the Nome Census Area; three in the North Slope Borough; one in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area; 19 in the Bethel Census Area; and two in the Dillingham Census Area.

There were six cases reported among nonresidents, including two in Anchorage, one in Soldotna and three in locations under investigation.

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 Wednesday was 4.82% over a seven-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.

— Zaz Hollander