The state reported the 40th COVID-related death Thursday, as well as 101 new cases among residents and nonresidents.
The person who died was an Anchorage man in his 70s who died on Aug. 16. His death is one of three that occurred on Aug. 16, according to the latest information on Alaska’s Coronavirus Response Hub.
Of the new cases reported Thursday, 97 are residents. The cases include 51 in Anchorage, 17 in Fairbanks, four in North Pole, three in the Nome Census Area, three in Wasilla, two in Eagle River, two in Juneau, two in Kenai, two in Kodiak, two in Kotzebue, two in Palmer and one each in Girdwood, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the Northwest Arctic Borough, Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Utqiagvik, Valdez and Wrangell.
Three of the nonresident cases reported Thursday were identified in Anchorage, Kodiak and Fairbanks. A fourth nonresident case is still under investigation to determine where it was located.
There were also two additional hospitalizations reported Thursday, for a total of 227 residents who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. This number includes people who have since died or recovered and been discharged. Currently there are 38 COVID-19 patients hospitalized across Alaska and another five patients who are under investigation for the disease, according to data from 24 hospital facilities in the state. Eight of those COVID-patients are being treated on a ventilator.
The Kenai Peninsula has seen 35 cases in the last 14 days and just 12 cases in the last week. Soldotna has the most active resident cases at 63. There are 56 active cases in Kenai, 31 active cases in Homer and 28 active cases in Seward.
Statewide, 377,936 COVID-19 tests have been conducted, with 9,722 of those occurring in the last week. The positivity rate for tests processed in the last week is 1.88%.
On the Kenai Peninsula, 16,668 tests have been conducted since March. The seven-day positivity rate for the region is .6%.
Locally, Central Peninsula Hospital has conducted 4,670 tests with 110 positive results, 4,527 negative results and 27 results that are pending, according to CPH public information officer Bruce Richards. South Peninsula Hospital has conducted 7,933 tests with 113 positive results, 7,717 negative results and 103 results that are pending, according to SPH public information officer Derotha Ferraro. Ferraro also said that SPH has gone a full two weeks without any positive cases, with the last one reported on Aug. 20.
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 Brian Mazurek at bmazurek@peninsulaclarion.com.
