The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reports 986 new COVID-19 cases and 209 hospitalizations, 4 new deaths in the data update on Thursday. That number includes 964 resident and 22 nonresident cases. Across the Kenai Peninsula, Soldotna reported 25 new cases, Kenai with 16, Homer 13, Kenai Peninsula Borough North 10 in 2 communities, Anchor Point with 5, Nikiski with 3, Seward with 3, Sterling with 3, and Kenai Peninsula Borough South 2 in 2 communities.
The two deaths were listed as recent, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services. They included a male Fairbanks resident in his 70s, and a male Fairbanks resident in his 50s.
There are currently 209 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who are hospitalized and 11 additional patients who are considered persons under investigation (PUI) for a total of 220 current COVID-related hospitalizations. Twenty-five of these patients are on ventilators. The percentage of patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 is 17%.
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 845.79. For boroughs and census areas: 24 areas are at the high alert level, including the Kenai Peninsula Region.
64.1% of Alaskans aged 12 and older have received their first vaccine dose. 59% of Alaskans aged 12 and older have been fully vaccinated. 49.4% of the Kenai Peninsula Region are considered fully vaccinated.