Alaska News

Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 200 new cases reported Monday, no new deaths

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The state on Monday reported 200 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths, according to the Department of Health and Social Services COVID-19 dashboard.

State data shows that 67 Alaskans have died with COVID-19 since the pandemic began here in March. The state’s per capita death rate remains among the lowest in the country.

Alaska’s daily reported cases have hit triple digits for 26 straight days. The current surge of cases exceeds any previous increases and case numbers are projected to continue to rise.

[Alaska is approaching 4 weeks of triple-digit daily COVID-19 case counts in an unprecedented surge]

The state’s average case rate over 14 days — a number that is used to gauge community spread — keeps rising. As of Monday, much of the state was in a high alert level, with more than 10 cases per 100,000 people.

The Northwest region, at 37.76 cases per 100,000 residents, was closely followed by the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region with 36.38. Anchorage was at 31.72 and the Fairbanks North Star region was at 33.59. A large Interior region surrounding Fairbanks was at 17.67. Juneau City and Borough was at 14.29, the Kenai Peninsula Borough was 13.09 and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough was at 11.88.

Statewide as of Monday, 41 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, while 24 other hospital patients were awaiting test results, according to state data.

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Of the new cases reported by the state, it wasn’t clear how many patients were showing symptoms of the virus when they tested positive. While people might get tested more than once, each case reported by the state health department only represents one person.

Of the 200 new cases of COVID-19 involving residents, there were 85 new cases in Anchorage plus four in Chugiak, and five in Eagle River; two in Homer, one in Kenai, one in Seward and six in Soldotna; one in Cordova; 52 in Fairbanks and five in North Pole; one in Houston, six in Palmer and nine in Wasilla; one in Utqiagvik; three in Juneau; and one unknown.

Among communities smaller than 1,000 not identified to protect confidentiality, there was one in the southern Kenai Peninsula; one in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area; one in Yakutat plus Hoonah-Angoon; five in Bethel Census Area; one in Bristol Bay plus Lake and Peninsula boroughs; and eight in Dillingham Census Area.

The state reported no nonresident cases on Monday.

The state’s test positivity rate as of Monday was 4.67% over a seven-day rolling average. The rate reflects the number of positive results divided by total tests performed. Health officials say levels higher than 5% may indicate communities aren’t doing enough testing.

-- Zaz Hollander

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