Alaska reports 55 COVID-19 cases in 2 days as state alert level drops to low for first time in nearly a year

Alaska on Wednesday reported 55 new coronavirus infections identified over the last two days and no deaths linked to COVID-19, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services.

Alaska’s average daily case counts have been trending down significantly statewide. Data showed that on average over the past two weeks, there were 4.47 cases per 100,000 people across Alaska. Dipping below five cases per 100,000 means the state this week went from an intermediate alert level to a low alert level for the first time since last July.

By Wednesday, about 53% of Alaskans 12 and older had received at least their first dose of vaccine. About 47% of eligible Alaskans were considered fully vaccinated, according to the state.

Also by Wednesday, there were 18 people with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 in hospitals throughout the state, far below a peak in late 2020. Since Jan. 1, 98% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in Alaska have been among people who were unvaccinated, according to a summary update from the state health department.

The state has switched to updating its coronavirus dashboard three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

In total, 362 Alaskans and seven nonresidents with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic reached the state last spring. Alaska’s death rate per capita remains among the lowest in the country, though the state’s size, health care system and other factors complicate national comparisons.

Of the 52 cases reported among Alaska residents Tuesday and Wednesday, there were 11 in Anchorage, five in Juneau, five in Nome, two in Delta Junction, two in Fairbanks, two in Kenai, two in North Pole, two in Tok and one each in Chugiak, Craig, Eagle River, Hooper Bay, Ketchikan, Palmer and Unalaska.

In smaller communities not named to protect privacy, there were three in the Copper River Census Area, and one each in the Bristol Bay plus Lake and Peninsula region, the Dillingham Census Area, Kusilvak Census Area, Prince of Wales and Hyder Census Area and the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area.

Three new nonresident cases were also identified — in Ketchikan, Fairbanks and Wasilla.

— Annie Berman