The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced that 35 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, including one on the peninsula. All are residents. The cases were in 12 communities: 17 in Anchorage, four in Fairbanks, three in Juneau, two in Utqiagvik, two in Wasilla and one each in Homer, Kotzebue, Northwest Arctic Borough, Palmer, Sitka and Unalaska.
Of the new cases, 29 were reported among people between the ages of 20 and 59.
In Alaska, 391,656 tests have been conducted, including 8,868 in the past seven days. The same time period saw an average daily positivity rate of 2.26%. The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s seven-day positivity rate for the same time period is 1.06%, with 378 tests conducted, according to DHSS’ Coronavirus Response Hub.
Alaska’s current alert level is intermediate, based on the average daily case rate for the past two weeks. Statewide, 6,724 cases have been reported, including 5,833 resident cases and 891 nonresident cases. According to DHSS, one resident case was removed and one nonresident case was corrected to a resident case, which is reflected in current totals.
One new hospitalization and no new deaths were also reported, bringing the number of people in Alaska currently hospitalized as a result of COVID-19 to 41, which includes five patients who are under investigation for the disease. To date, 235 individuals have been hospitalized and 42 people have died.
DHSS also announced 16 more COVID-19 recoveries, meaning people who 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.
