Alaska finished the week by reporting 495 new COVID-19 cases in the state on Friday. In total, 3,361 new cases were reported in Alaska this week.

The state also reported 18 new hospitalizations and six new deaths this week for a total of 928 and 183, respectively. As of Friday, there were 142 Alaska residents hospitalized with COVID-19, including eight who were considered persons under investigation for the disease. Thirteen of the patients were on ventilators. As of Friday, 13.7% of all hospitalizations in Alaska were COVID-related.

As of Friday, Central Peninsula Hospital had conducted 10,098 tests with 9,402 negative, 655 positive and 27 pending results. CPH was also treating two patients who were COVID positive on Friday, with no patients on ventilators. Additionally, 23 of CPH’s total staff of around 1,000 were in quarantine.

Also as of Friday, South Peninsula Hospital had conducted 15,175 tests with 14,486 negative, 442 positive and 247 pending results.

School risk levels

Over the last week, the state conducted 29,040 tests and saw a positivity rate of 5.9%. To date, the state has conducted 1,184,545 tests. During the same time period, the Kenai Peninsula Borough conducted 1,539 tests and saw a positivity rate of 7.8%. To date, the borough has conducted 50,513 tests.

There were 250 cases reported by the Kenai Peninsula Borough over the past week, including 59 reported on Friday. Friday also marked the end of the academic quarter for KPBSD schools, 35 of which were operating remotely, including all on the central peninsula. Two other district schools were operating at medium risk. Tebughna School shifted to high risk and 100% remote learning until winter break last week due to confirmation of a positive COVID-19 case in the community.

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 Friday, 457 cases had been reported on the central peninsula over the last two weeks, meaning the region will have to lose 406 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 Friday, 83 cases had been reported in the southern peninsula over the last two weeks, meaning the region will have to lose 64 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 Friday, 22 cases had been reported in the eastern peninsula over the last two weeks, meaning the region will have to lose 15 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 continue to be open for on-site learning and operate at low risk level.

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.

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.

This information is based on data reported by Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services between Dec. 11 and Dec. 18.