The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reported Thursday 112 new cases of COVID-19 in Alaska. All but one of the cases are among residents. Anchorage had 49 cases; Fairbanks had 21 cases; Juneau had eight cases; Fairbanks North Star Borough had five cases; North Pole had five cases; Wasilla had four cases; Bristol Bay/Lake & Peninsula boroughs had three cases; Chugiak had three cases; Eagle River had two cases; Utqiagvik had two cases; and each of the following had one case: Bethel, Bethel Census Area, Kodiak, Kusilvak Census Area, NW Arctic Borough, Palmer, Sitka, SE Fairbanks Census Area and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area.
The location of the nonresident case is still under investigation. The new cases bring the total number of cases in Alaska to 6,915, including 6,020 resident cases and 895 nonresident cases.
DHSS said in a release that changes in the number of cases reported each day sometimes reflect “cyclical variations” depending on what day of the week it is, and that reporting from lab facilities can be lower on the weekends.
The statewide alert level, based on the average daily case rate for the last two weeks, is high.
Two new hospitalizations and no new deaths were reported. The total number of people who have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 is 241. There are currently 42 people hospitalized because of COVID-19, including three people who are considered persons under investigation for the disease.
The average daily positivity rate in Alaska for the past seven days, during which 4,723 people have been tested, is 1.99%. To date, 393,077 tests have been conducted in Alaska. Over the past week, the Kenai Peninsula Borough conducted 163 tests and saw a .61% positivity rate, according to DHSS Coronavirus Response Hub.
Locally, Central Peninsula Hospital has conducted 4,939 total tests, with 115 positive, 4,777 negative and 43 pending results as of Wednesday. South Peninsula Hospital has conducted 8,237 total tests with 113 positive, 7,970 negative and 154 pending results as of Wednesday.
2,148 people have recovered from COVID-19 in Alaska.
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.
