Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 210 new cases and no deaths reported Wednesday

Alaska reported 210 new coronavirus infections and no COVID-related deaths on Wednesday, according to the Department of Health and Social Services.

Case counts and hospitalizations in Alaska remain far below what they were during the peak in November and December. However, Alaska is now experiencing a slight increase in its average daily case rate compared to recent weeks. Many regions in the state are still in the highest alert category based on their current per capita rate of infection.

“What we’re seeing recently is just a little bit of increase in cases,” said Dr. Joe McLaughlin, an epidemiologist with the state health department, during a weekly public information session Wednesday. “It’s not huge, it’s not precipitous, but it is starting to trend up,” he said.

He and other public health officials continue to encourage Alaskans to keep up with personal virus mitigation efforts like hand-washing, mask-wearing, social distancing and getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

Alaska this month became the first state in the country to open vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and older who lives or works in the state. You can visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 to sign up for a vaccine appointment; new appointments are added regularly. The phone line is staffed 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends.

By Wednesday, 235,452 people — including over 38% of Alaskans eligible for a shot — had received at least their first dose, according to the state’s vaccine monitoring dashboard. At least 157,816 people — about 27% of Alaskans 16 and older — were considered fully vaccinated.

[What can you do after getting the COVID-19 vaccine? Here’s how Alaska’s top public health experts are adjusting.]

Alaska’s death rate per capita is still among the lowest in the country, but the state’s size and vulnerable health care system complicate national comparisons. In total, 308 Alaskans and four nonresidents with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic reached the state last spring.

By Wednesday, there were 36 people with COVID-19 in hospitals throughout the state, far below a peak in late 2020. Another one patient had test results pending.

Of the 207 cases identified among Alaska residents on Wednesday, there were 100 in Anchorage, plus six in Chugiak and six in Eagle River; one in Valdez; three in Kenai; one in Soldotna; one in Healy; two in Fairbanks; four in North Pole; three in Delta Junction; one in Big Lake; one in Houston; 11 in Palmer; 35 in Wasilla; one in Willow; three in Juneau; one in Wrangell; one in Unalaska; and one in Bethel.

Among communities smaller than 1,000 residents which aren’t named to protect privacy, there were 24 in the Bethel Census Area and one in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

There were also three new nonresident cases: one in Anchorage, one in Fairbanks and one 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.

The state’s data doesn’t specify whether people testing positive for COVID-19 have symptoms. More than half of the nation’s infections are transmitted from asymptomatic people, according to CDC estimates.

The average percentage of daily positive tests over the last week was 2.45%.

— Annie Berman