The state of Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services reported Monday that an additional 19 residents had tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 563.
No additional nonresidents tested positive as of Monday, according to a Monday press release from the department. That number remains at 46.
Among these new cases is the first case of COVID-19 in Wrangell. Southeast Alaska Health Consortium is working with the state’s Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing to conduct contact tracing for the case.
In addition, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced Monday that the remaining crew members and passengers of the state ferry M/V Tustumena — including the crew member who tested positive and was included in Sunday’s case count — would be returning to Homer.
The 19 cases reported on Monday are from seven different communities in Alaska: 11 are from Anchorage, two are from Homer, two are from Wasilla, one is from Juneau, one is from Soldotna, one is from Wrangell and one is from an unspecified community in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Of the new cases, seven are male and 12 are female. Four are between 20-29, eight are between 30-39, two are between 40-49 and five are between 50-59.
No new hospitalizations or deaths were reported Monday. Those numbers remain at 48 total hospitalizations and 10 deaths. Seven people are currently hospitalized who are either COVID-positive or are under investigation.
A total of 65,912 tests for COVID-19 have been conducted across the state for a three-day rolling average positivity rate of .75%.
Locally, Central Peninsula Hospital has conducted 1,341 tests, with 16 coming back positive, 1,272 negative and 53 pending results. South Peninsula Hospital has conducted 2,195 tests, with 38 coming back positive, 2,009 negative and 148 pending results.
Of the 563 cases of Alaska residents, 169 cases are active and 384 people have recovered. On the Kenai Peninsula, 55 cases are currently active.
For the latest on the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit covid19.alaska.gov.
Reach reporter Brian Mazurek at bmazurek@peninsulaclarion.com.
