The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reported 86 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday — 84 resident cases and two nonresident cases.
Two of the new resident cases are in Kenai, according to the DHSS coronavirus response hub website. Those are the only new cases on the Kenai Peninsula. Kenai now has 75 total cumulative cases. There have been 92 total cases in Soldotna, 68 in Homer, 62 in Seward, 31 in the “other South” category used by DHSS for communities with populations of less than 1,000 people, 23 in Sterling, 12 in the “other North” category, 10 in Anchor Point, six in Nikiski and four in Fritz Creek.
Of the total 383 COVID-19 cases on the peninsula, 260 are still active while 121 people are considered recovered. In Homer, 38 cases are still active while 30 people have recovered.
Of the new cases reported Thursday, there are 41 in Anchorage, two in Eagle River, two in Kenai, two in Kodiak, one in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, 10 in Fairbanks, one in North Pole, one in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, four each in Palmer and Wasilla, one each in Big Lake and Houston, one in Nome, two in Utqiagvik, three in Kotzebue, one in Douglas, four in Juneau, one in Ketchikan, and two in Bethel.
One of the new nonresident cases reported by the state Thursday is in Juneau and the other is unknown.
Alaska now has a cumulative total of 4,520 COVID-19 cases among residents, and a total of 812 nonresident cases.
So far, 1,328 Alaskans are considered recovered, while 3,163 cases are still active. Out of the nonresident cases, 185 people are considered recovered while 627 cases are still active.
In total, 187 residents have been hospitalized for confirmed cases of COVID-19, and four nonresidents have been hospitalized. As of Thursday, state data shows that 45 people are currently being hospitalized for confirmed cases of COVID-19, while six people are being hospitalized as “persons under investigation” for suspected cases.
There have been 29 deaths of Alaska residents linked to the disease so far.
The data hub shows that the state has conducted a total of 312,647 COVID-19 tests since the start of the pandemic. The current 14-day average turnaround time for a test at the state laboratory is three days.
As of Wednesday, Alaska’s seven-day average positivity rate was 2.09%.
Locally, South Peninsula Hospital has conducted a total of 7,326 COVID-19 tests since the pandemic began, according to hospital public information officer Derotha Ferraro. Of those, 7,143 tests have been negative and 70 are still pending. The hospital has had a total of 113 positive test results so far.
Testing
In Homer, testing continues to be available from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at South Peninsula Hospital’s main entrance 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.
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.
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.
Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.
