Alaska is reporting one new coronavirus death and over 200 new cases of the virus. The state Department of Health and Social Services reported the death yesterday of a Tok man in his 70s, raising Alaska’s death toll from the pandemic to 392 residents and eight nonresidents. The health department also reported 258 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. Across the Kenai Peninsula, Kenai reported 16, Soldotna 11, Homer 2, Nikiski 2, Seward 2, and Anchor Point 1. There also were 21 nonresident cases reported in Alaska, of which 1 was reported in Soldotna.
Hospitalizations appear to be rising as there are currently 115 patients diagnosed with COVId-19 who are hospitalized and two additional patients who are considered persons under investigation for a total of 117 current COVID-related hospitalizations. The percentage of patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 is 10.4%.
Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anne Zink:
“So this virus changes every time it replicates. One of the changes that we’ve seen is what we call the delta variant. That version of the virus spreads more easily and it can make people sicker and people who have previously had COVID are more likely to get sick from this variant, again. The very best thing we can to do protect ourselves, our elders, our kiddos, and our community is to get vaccinated.”
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 280.0. 24 boroughs and census areas of the state are in the high alert level, of which Kenai Peninsula Borough is one of them. 58.6% of Alaskans age 12 and older have received at least their first vaccine dose. 52.9% of Alaskans age 12 and older have been fully vaccinated. 44.9% of the Kenai Peninsula Region is considered fully vaccinated.
