The Department of Health and Social Services announced 130 new cases of COVID-19 in Alaska over the Labor Day holiday weekend, combined across Saturday, Sunday, and Monday’s reports. Two new deaths were also reported, bringing the state’s number of fatalities to 42.
Four of the new cases were Kenai residents, two of the cases were Soldotna residents, and one was a nonresident in the Soldotna area.
The majority of the state’s new cases came from Anchorage where 108 residents tested positive.
There are currently 3,635 active cases of COVID-19 among Alaska residents. 196 of those cases are residents of the Kenai Peninsula, a reduction of eight active cases from this same time a week ago. Among the current active cases, 65 are in Soldotna, 60 in Kenai, 30 in Homer, 16 in Sterling, and five in Seward.
The Kenai Peninsula’s rate of daily tests with positive results has been near 0.7% throughout the weekend. The positivity rate has been at that mark, or better, since the start of September. As recently as three weeks ago, the rate of positive tests was just under 3.0% during the weekend of August 15 and 16.
With rates of new COVID-19 cases improving, schools in the central portion of the Kenai officially re-opened to students school today. The area is currently in the Medium Risk level for transmission, which allows the on-site learning option to re-open.
