Alaska is dealing with nearly 700 new coronavirus cases. The state Department of Health and Social Services reported 686 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, including 631 resident cases.
Across the Kenai Peninsula, Homer reported 34 additional cases, Kenai 11, Soldotna 10, Seward 5, Anchor Point 4, Kenai Peninsula Borough North 3, Kenai Peninsula Borough South 3, and Nikiski 2. Also, there were 55 new nonresident cases, of which 2 were reported in Homer and 2 in Kenai.
The DHSS reports that there were 2,193 cases reported in Alaskans last week, an increase of 3.3% from the week before. Cases remain high or are increasing in most parts of the state on the road system including Kenai Peninsula Borough, Anchorage, Mat-Su Borough and Fairbanks North Star Borough. 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 411.6.
On Wednesday, Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anne Zink said that the delta variant has become the dominant variant in Alaska, which transmits more easily than other variants:
“We’re clearly seeing an increase since July 1st. We’re at 700 almost 800% nationwide increase in cases over the last seven days. Delta continues to be widespread. Reports out nationally, we’re about 97% of all sequenced cases nationwide are delta variant cases. Because of delta variant, we are seeing many things, but including the delta variant, that moves more easily from person to person. We’re continuing to see a lot of cases across the state.”
59.6% of Alaskans age 12 and older have received at least their first vaccine dose. 53.6% of Alaskans 12 and older have been fully vaccinated. 45.5% of the Kenai Peninsula Region are fully vaccinated.