Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services reported 97 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday – 89 among residents and eight among nonresidents. Of the 89 residents reported Friday, Anchorage had 35 cases; Fairbanks had 27; North Pole had five; Palmer had four; Wasilla had five; Utqiagvik had two; four in Juneau; and each of the following had one case: Delta Junction, the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, the Nome Census Area, Douglas, Bristol Bay plus Lake and Peninsula Borough, the Kusilvak Census Area and the northern Kenai Peninsula.
The location for one of the new nonresident cases is unknown, while three were identified in Anchorage, three in Fairbanks and one in Eagle River.
One new death was reported on Friday, which DHSS identified as an Anchorage woman in her 40s. Hers is the 43rd reported death of an Alaska resident due to COVID-19.
There have been 394,586 tests conducted statewide with 4,440 tests conducted in the last week. The positivity rate of tests processed in the last seven days is 1.82%. There have been 17,172 tests conducted in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, and the local seven-day positivity rate is 1%. The Kenai Peninsula has seen a total of 23 resident cases in the last 14 days.
Overall there have been 7,024 COVID-19 cases identified in Alaska since the state began tracking the pandemic in March – 6,113 residents and 911 nonresidents. Of the resident cases, 3,918 are currently active, while 2,152 have recovered and 43 have died. Of the nonresident cases, 704 are active, while 207 have recovered and none have died.
With three new hospitalizations reported Friday, the total number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 is 244. This includes people who have either died or since recovered and gone home. Currently, there are 40 COVID-positive patients hospitalized and another four patients under investigation for the disease, according to reporting from 24 hospital facilities across the state. Of those, seven currently require treatment on a ventilator.
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.
View the interactive map below to learn more about each testing location on the peninsula.
Reach reporter Brian Mazurek at bmazurek@peninsulaclarion.com.
