Alaska finished the week with 290 new COVID-19 cases reported in the state on Friday. In total, 1,418 new cases were reported in Alaska this week, a decrease from last week, when the state reported 1,914 new cases.
As of Friday, at least 72,899 initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in Alaska, though officials said that number is likely higher due to a delay in reporting. Additionally, at least 16,186 Alaskans had received both doses of their COVID vaccine. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to be effective. Pfizer doses must be administered 21 days apart, while Moderna doses must be administered 28 days apart.
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services pointed out earlier this week that more Alaskans have now been vaccinated against COVID-19 than have been diagnosed with the disease.
Among residents and nonresidents, the state also reported 13 new hospitalizations and one new death, for a total of 1,184 and 254 respectively. Twenty four deaths were announced by the state on Wednesday, 23 of which were the result of death certificate review and occurred over the past several months. As of Friday, there were 51 people in Alaska who were hospitalized due to COVID-19, including three who were considered persons under investigation for the disease. Seven of the patients were on ventilators. As of Friday, 5.4% of all hospitalizations in Alaska were related to COVID-19.
Central Peninsula Hospital External Affairs Director Bruce Richards said Friday that the hospital was treating no patients who were COVID-positive for the first time in months. As of Friday, the hospital had also conducted 11,231 COVID-19 tests with 10,475 negative, 725 positive and 14 pending results.
Over the last week, the state conducted 28,717 tests and saw a positivity rate of 3.45%. To date, the state has conducted 1,438,958 tests. During the same time period, the Kenai Peninsula Borough conducted 1,139 tests and saw a positivity rate of 2.28%. To date, the borough has conducted 59,573 tests.
There were 62 cases reported by the Kenai Peninsula Borough over the past week, a decrease from last week, including six reported on Friday. To date, 2,884 cases have been reported in the borough, which has also seen 21 COVID deaths and 85 hospitalizations.
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.
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 Jan. 15 and Jan. 22.
