The state Department of Health and Social Services reports 1,864 new coronavirus cases in the most recent COVID data update on Monday from Friday through Sunday. No deaths were reported as newly accounted for COVID-19 deaths will be reported weekly on Wednesdays.
Two new Alaska resident hospitalizations were reported. There are currently 111 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who are hospitalized and one additional patient who are considered persons under investigation (PUI) for a total of 112 current COVID-related hospitalizations. Seven of these patients are on ventilators. The percentage of patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 is 9.8%.
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 810.5. For boroughs and census areas: 28 areas are at the high alert level.
Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anne Zink, in a Wednesday COVID-19 Science ECHO said:
“You can see overall in Alaska we’ve had 36% decrease in cases this week compared to the week before. Again, you can look at the week-to-week variation. Despite that there are still a lot of cases in Alaska. The state overall is a red.”
The DHSS notes that protective measures against the Omicron variant remain the same as for the other COVID variants. Layering protective measures, including masking, handwashing, physical distancing, and testing help to reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Using a self-test before and after travel and large gatherings is advised.
