COVID-19. (Image courtesy the CDC)

COVID-19. (Image courtesy the CDC)

49 new COVID-19 cases reported

Seven of the new resident cases reported Thursday were identified on the Kenai Peninsula.

Another 49 positive cases were reported by Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services Thursday: 46 among residents and three nonresidents.

Seven of the new resident cases reported Thursday were identified on the Kenai Peninsula: Two in Kenai, two in Soldotna, two in Homer, one in Seward and one in Sterling. The other 39 resident cases were identified in Anchorage (21), Fairbanks (seven), Wasilla (four), Palmer (two), Bethel (one), Eagle River (one), Nome (one), North Pole (one) and Petersburg (one).

Of the three new nonresident cases, one was identified as a seafood industry worker in the Kodiak Island Borough, while the locations of the other two are currently unknown, according to a Thursday press release from DHSS.

One new hospitalization associated with COVID-19 was reported Thursday, bringing the total number of hospitalizations that have occurred in the state to 80. There are 28 people currently hospitalized across the state who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or are under investigation, none of whom are being treated on ventilators, according to the latest information on the state’s Coronavirus Response Hub.

There are currently 774 active cases of COVID-19 in Alaska among residents and nonresidents. This includes 93 active cases on the Kenai Peninsula.

A total of 632 residents and nonresidents have recovered from the disease. There have been a total of 1,523 cases identified in Alaska since the state began monitoring the outbreak in March.

There have been 135,744 tests for COVID-19 conducted in Alaska so far. The average positivity rate for test results from the last three days is 1.24%.

Testing

The NTC Community Clinic in Ninilchik is providing testing for COVID-19. The NTC Community Clinic is the Indian Health Service provider for the Ninilchik Tribe. The clinic is providing testing with a rapid test machine to those with symptoms, travelers and asymptomatic people. There are currently no restrictions on who can get tested. To make an appointment to be tested at the NTC Community Clinic, call 907-567-3970.

Other southern Kenai Peninsula testing sites are at South Peninsula Hospital and at SVT Health and Wellness Clinics in Anchor Point, Homer and Seldovia. Call ahead at the hospital at 907-235-0235 and at the SVT clinics at 907-226-2228. The new testing hours at South Peninsula Hospital are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Testing is available on the Central Peninsula 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.

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