Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 105 infections and no deaths reported Tuesday

Alaska on Tuesday reported 105 new coronavirus infections, according to the Department of Health and Social Services.

No new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported. In total, 302 Alaskans and four nonresidents with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic reached the Alaska in March. Alaska’s death rate per capita is still among the lowest in the country, but the state’s size and vulnerable health care system complicate national comparisons.

Alaska this month became the first state in the country to open up vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and older who lives or works in the state. You can visit covidvax.alaska.gov or call 907-646-3322 to sign up for a vaccine appointment. The phone line is staffed 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends.

By Tuesday, 195,328 people — about 27% of Alaska’s population — had received at least their first vaccine shot, according to the state’s vaccine monitoring dashboard. That’s above the national average of 21% of the population. At least 135,482 people — about 19% of the state population — were considered fully vaccinated.

Although case counts and hospitalizations in Alaska remain far below what they were during the peak in November and December, the overall decline in cases has slowed in recent weeks, and many regions of the state are still in the highest alert category based on their current per capita rate of infection.

Public health officials continue to encourage Alaskans to keep up with personal virus mitigation efforts like hand-washing, mask-wearing, social distancing and getting tested if symptomatic or exposed to someone with COVID-19.

By Tuesday, there were 33 people with COVID-19 in hospitals throughout the state, far below a peak in late 2020. Another six patients had test results pending.

Of the 102 cases identified among Alaska residents Tuesday, there were 27 in Anchorage, plus four in Chugiak and two in Eagle River; three in Valdez; four in Soldotna; five in Fairbanks; three in North Pole; two in Delta Junction; nine in Palmer; 26 in Wasilla; one in Utqiagvik; one in Juneau; and one in Unalaska.

Among smaller communities not named to protect individuals’ privacy, there was one in the Copper River Census Area; three in the Fairbanks North Star Borough; and 10 in the Bethel Census Area.

There were also three new nonresident cases identified: two in Anchorage and one in Unalaska.

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

The state’s data doesn’t specify whether people testing positive for COVID-19 have symptoms. More than half of the nation’s infections are transmitted from asymptomatic people, according to CDC estimates.

— Annie Berman