COVID-19 cases in Alaska are starting to rise as the state is seeing a record daily coronavirus case count. On Wednesday, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reported 1,095 cases, which is currently the highest single day count the state has recorded. In addition, 201 residents of the state are currently hospitalized with the virus. The new numbers include two additional coronavirus related deaths which brings Alaska’s toll to 453. Both of the resident deaths were recent and identified as a male resident of Anchorage in his 70s and a male Anchorage resident in his 60s.
Of the high case count reported by the DHSS, 1,068 were residents of Alaska including 24 cases in Kenai, 19 in Homer, 19 in Soldotna, 9 in Seward, 3 in Kenai Peninsula Borough North, 1 in Kenai Peninsula Borough South, 1 in Nikiski, and 1 in Sterling. In addition, there were 17 new nonresident cases, including 1 in Homer and 1 in Seward.
There are currently 201 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who are hospitalized and 14 additional patients who are considered persons under investigation (PUI) for a total of 215 current COVID-related hospitalizations. Thirty-four of these patients are on ventilators. The percentage of patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 is 17.3%.
The current statewide alert level – based on the reported number of cases per 100,000 people over the past 7 days – is high (red) at 637.3. For boroughs and census areas: 24 areas are at the high alert level, including the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
62% of Alaskans aged 12 and older have received at least their first vaccine dose. 56.7% of Alaskans aged 12 and older have been fully vaccinated. 47.9% of the Kenai Peninsula Region are considered fully vaccinated.