Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 649 new cases reported Sunday, no new deaths

Alaska reported 649 new COVID-19 cases Sunday and no additional deaths, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services.

The new cases follow the state’s largest daily increase of reported deaths -- with 18 deaths reported Saturday, five of which occurred recently.

In total, 175 Alaskans and one nonresident with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic began here in March. Alaska’s overall death rate per capita is among the lowest in the country, but officials say it’s difficult to compare Alaska to other states because of it’s vast geography and vulnerable health care system.

Alaska has seen rising daily case numbers throughout the last few weeks, making the state the 14th highest per capita throughout the country during the last seven days. The surge in new cases has overwhelmed the health department’s ability to report them and the department cautioned that recent case counts underestimate the true number of statewide infections.

The climbing case numbers have meant increased hospitalizations and deaths. Health officials throughout the state have repeatedly stressed that if cases continue to rise, they could overwhelm hospitals. Officials have also stressed that staffing is a major concern.

By Sunday, there were 130 people with COVID-19 hospitalized statewide and another 9 people in the hospitals who were suspected to have the virus. In total, 13.6% of people hospitalized had COVID-19.

Throughout the state there were only 36 intensive care unit beds available Sunday. In Anchorage, where the state’s sickest patients often end up, only four of 72 intensive care unit beds were available. Hospitals within the city were also more than 75% full, with 500 inpatient beds available out of 615.

Of the 640 new cases reported in Alaska residents Sunday, there were 269 in Anchorage, 11 in Chugiak, 18 in Eagle River and two in Girdwood; one was in Anchor Point, one in Fritz Creek, six in Homer, nine in Kenai, one in Nikiski, 20 in Soldotna and four in Sterling; 34 were in Kodiak; one was in Cordova; one was in Healy; 33 were in Fairbanks and nine in North Pole; one was in Delta Junction; three were in Big Lake, 33 in Palmer, 75 in Wasilla and two in Willow; three were in Nome; 13 were in Utqiagvik; eight were in Juneau; five were in Sitka; three were in Skagway; one was in Unalaska; 22 were in Bethel; two were in Chevak and one was marked as unknown.

Among communities smaller than 1,000 people not named to protect privacy, there were two in the northern portion of the Kenai Peninsula Borough and four in the southern portion; one in the Denali Borough; four in the Fairbanks North Star Borough; one in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area; three in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough; four in the North Slope Borough; one in the Northwest Arctic Borough; one in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough; one in the Aleutians West Census Area; five in the Bethel Census Area; one in the Dillingham Census Area; and 20 in the Kusilvak Census Area.

Of the nine new cases reported in nonresidents, there were two in Anchorage, one in Eagle River, one in Kodiak, two in Fairbanks, one in Wasilla and two cases were classified as unknown.

While people might get tested more than once, each case reported by the state health department represents only one person.

It is not clear how many of the people who tested positive in Saturday’s results were showing symptoms. The CDC estimates about a third of people with coronavirus infections are asymptomatic.

The statewide test positivity rate was 5.61% during the last week. Health officials said that a positivity rate above 5% can indicate widespread community transmission.

- Tess Williams