The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced 152 new COVID-19 cases in Alaska on Monday, including nine on the Kenai Peninsula. Affected peninsula communities include Homer with four cases, Soldotna with four cases and Nikiski with one case.

The new cases bring Alaska’s statewide case total to 44,023, including 42,563 residents and 1,460 nonresidents.

The number of new cases marks a decrease in daily case increase totals reported by the state over the past week. Last Monday, for example, the state reported 427 new cases. On Dec. 5, the state reported a single-day case increase of 933.

Over the past week, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has conducted 1,454 tests and saw a positivity rate of 7.63%. To date, the borough has conducted 50,051 tests. The current statewide alert level, based on the average daily case rate for the last two weeks, is high at 61.26. The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s alert level is also high, but decreasing, at 58.62.

As of Monday, Central Peninsula Hospital had conducted 10,224 tests with 9,519 negative, 661 positive and 29 pending results. CPH was treating four patients who were COVID-19 positive on Monday, none of whom were on ventilators. At CPH’s Heritage Place Skilled Nursing facility, there were two COVID-positive patients on Monday. Thirty two Heritage Place residents have recovered from COVID-19.

The state also reported two new hospitalizations and no new deaths. To date, 919 Alaska residents have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 and 183 have died. Currently, there are 123 people hospitalized in Alaska who are COVID-19 positive or who are considered persons under investigation for the disease. Thirteen of the patients are on ventilators.

Alaska’s daily positivity rate for the past seven days, during which 26,414 tests were conducted, is 4.47%. To date, 1,200,977 tests have been conducted in Alaska.

In addition to the nine new cases on the peninsula, the state also reported 83 cases in Anchorage, 13 in Kusilvak Census Area, seven in North Pole, six in Bethel, six in Fairbanks, six in Wasilla, four in Eagle River, three in Kodiak, three in Palmer, two in Bethel Census Area, two in Delta Junction and one each in Chevak, Houston, Juneau, Nome, Sitka and Utqiagvik.

Two nonresident cases were also reported. One was reported in Anchorage and the other has a location still under investigation.

Schools risk levels

Winter break began for most KPBSD schools on Dec. 18. School will resume on Jan. 4.

The central peninsula is considered high risk when 52 or more cases have been reported in the region in the last 14 days. As of Monday, 381 cases had been reported in the central peninsula over the last two weeks, meaning the region will have to lose 330 cases in order to drop back into medium-risk level.

The southern peninsula is considered high risk when 20 or more cases have been reported in the region in the last 14 days. As of Monday, 80 cases had been reported in the southern peninsula over the last two weeks, meaning the region will have to lose 61 cases to drop back into medium-risk level.

The eastern peninsula is considered high risk when eight or more cases have been reported in the region in the last 14 days. As of Monday, 21 cases had been reported in the eastern peninsula over the last two weeks, meaning the region will have to lose 14 cases to drop back into medium risk.

Cooper Landing School and Hope School were preventatively shifted to medium-risk level on Dec. 4 by the district in response to growing COVID-19 cases on the peninsula.

Susan B. English School, Nanwalek School and Port Graham School were open for on-site learning and operating at low-risk level at the conclusion of the academic quarter, Dec. 18.

During 100% remote learning, Get-It and Go meals are free for all students and can be picked up daily at school. Operational risk levels, case incidence rates and case numbers by community are updated daily on the district’s risk levels dashboard at covid19.kpbsd.org/dashboard.

Testing locations on the Kenai Peninsula

On the central peninsula, testing is available at Capstone Family Clinic, K-Beach Medical, Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, Central Peninsula Urgent Care, Peninsula Community Health Services, Urgent Care of Soldotna, the Kenai Public Health Center and Odyssey Family Practice. Call Kenai Public Health at 907-335-3400 for information on testing criteria for each location.

In Homer, testing is available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at the lower level of South Peninsula Hospital’s Specialty Clinic as well as through SVT Health & Wellness clinics in Homer, Seldovia and Anchor Point. Call ahead at the hospital at 907-235-0235 and at the SVT clinics at 907-226-2228.

On Dec. 25, testing in Homer will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In Ninilchik, NTC Community Clinic is providing testing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The testing is only for those traveling, symptomatic, needing testing for medical procedures, or with a known exposure after seven days. Only 20 tests will be offered per day. To make an appointment to be tested at the NTC Community Clinic, call 907-567-3970.

In Seward, testing is available at Providence Seward, Seward Community Health Center, Glacier Family Medicine and North Star Health Clinic.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.