Alaska reports 1,773 COVID-19 cases over 5 days as steep downward trajectory in new infections continues

Alaska on Wednesday reported 1,773 cases of COVID-19 over five days as part of a steep decline in the state’s omicron surge.

• The latest numbers included 1,749 cases among residents and another 24 among nonresidents, as well as 94 COVID-positive patients hospitalized statewide, compared to 95 hospitalizations as of last week.

• Cases over the last week declined by 36% compared to the week before, state data showed.

• The state reported 22 additional COVID-19 deaths since last week. The state now reports COVID-related deaths only on Wednesdays. Since the pandemic began, a total of 1,130 Alaskans and 33 nonresidents have died from the virus.

• The newly reported deaths included seven people from Anchorage, two from the Bethel Census Area, one from Chugiak, three from Fairbanks, one from Houston, one from Ketchikan, one from the Kusilvak Census Area, one from the North Slope Borough, two from Palmer, two from Wasilla and one from the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. Four were in their 80s, six were in their 70s, four were in their 60s, five were in their 50s, two were in their 40s, and one was in his 30s. Nine were women and 13 were men.

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• Alaska’s seven-day new case rate has fallen to ninth-highest in the nation, according to a CDC tracker. Alaska’s omicron wave began and peaked a few weeks behind other states, but is now falling.

• As of Wednesday, 63.6% of eligible Alaskans had completed their primary vaccine series. Just 26.4% had received their booster.