The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced that 34 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Alaska on Sunday. All but one of the cases were among residents. The cases were in 10 communities: 13 in Anchorage, six in Fairbanks, four in the Bethel Census Area, three in Wasilla, two in North Pole and one each in Juneau, Nome Census Area, Metlakatla, North Slope Borough and Soldotna. One nonresident case still under investigation was reported in Fairbanks.
More than half of the 33 new resident cases were reported among people aged 39 or younger.
Statewide, 388,621 tests have been conducted. The last week saw an average daily positivity rate of 1.84%. The seven-day positivity rate for the Kenai Peninsula Borough is .76%, with 525 tests conducted during the same time period.
Alaska’s current alert level is intermediate, based on the average daily case rate for the past two weeks. Statewide, 6,690 cases have been reported, including 5,798 resident cases and 892 nonresident cases.
The state also announced two additional hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and no new deaths. To date, 234 people in Alaska have been hospitalized for the disease and 42 people have died.
Among Alaska residents, 2,121 people have recovered from COVID-19, meaning they no longer require isolation.
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 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.
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.
