Coronavirus

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

CPH remains below capacity, sees uptick in cases among staff

As of Friday, CPH had 12 COVID-positive staff members and 22 people at home quarantining.

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Amid steep rise in COVID-19 cases, officials see reasons for optimism

COVID cases increased 145% from this week to last week, according to state data.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Chairs at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly chambers are decorated with paper cutouts on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building in Soldotna, Alaska. The cutouts were intended to represent Central Peninsula Hospital patients who died of COVID-19. During public testimony given Tuesday, several members of the public expressed the desire for alternative treatments for COVID-19 and protested CPH’s treatment methods. (Photo courtesy Katherine Uei)

Assembly approves state health grant

The money was made available under a grant program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairs at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly chambers are decorated with paper cutouts on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building in Soldotna, Alaska. The cutouts were intended to represent Central Peninsula Hospital patients who died of COVID-19. During public testimony given Tuesday, several members of the public expressed the desire for alternative treatments for COVID-19 and protested CPH’s treatment methods. (Photo courtesy Katherine Uei)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Statewide average case numbers double in 1 week

Alaska reported an estimated rolling average of 583.3 cases per 100,000 people daily over the past seven days.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A sign advertising testing for COVID-19 is seen at Capstone Clinic in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Testing ‘key component’ as COVID cases spike

There was a 145% increase in COVID cases from the week of Dec. 22 to the week of Dec. 29.

A sign advertising testing for COVID-19 is seen at Capstone Clinic in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A DHSS graphic shows most regions of Alaska to be at high alert level as of Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. (Screenshot)

2022 kicks off with a rush of COVID cases

More than 2,800 cases reported over last five days

A DHSS graphic shows most regions of Alaska to be at high alert level as of Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. (Screenshot)
A map shows 7-day COVID-19 case rates per 100,000 people by borough and census area, as of Dec. 29. (Screenshot from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services)

7-day COVID rates creeping up

The state announced nearly 1,000 new cases reported in Alaska from Dec. 27 to Dec. 28

A map shows 7-day COVID-19 case rates per 100,000 people by borough and census area, as of Dec. 29. (Screenshot from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Alaska reports nearly 1,000 new COVID cases

Six cases of the omicron variant have been detected in Alaska.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
An emergency worker holds a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport in Juneau, Alaska, in October 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

COVID tests at airports catch 6K cases since June 2020

The program to test travelers will stop at Alaska airports at the end of January.

An emergency worker holds a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport in Juneau, Alaska, in October 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

More omicron cases reported

Alaska will no longer offer testing at airports in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau beginning Feb. 1.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A sticker promoting COVID mitigation measures is photographed at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. (Clarion file)

COVID, year 2

Vaccines, new strains, protests and hospital overflows marked 2021’s volatile year

A sticker promoting COVID mitigation measures is photographed at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. (Clarion file)
A graphic shows the enrollment numbers for the Kenai Peninsula School District from 2016 to 2021. (Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara)
A graphic shows the enrollment numbers for the Kenai Peninsula School District from 2016 to 2021. (Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara)
Certified nursing assistant KaDaisjah Roberts, left, and nurse Debbie Aubin, right, work at the “Y” vaccine clinic in Soldotna on Dec. 22, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘An enormous help’

Alaska’s temporary health care workers head home after COVID surge

Certified nursing assistant KaDaisjah Roberts, left, and nurse Debbie Aubin, right, work at the “Y” vaccine clinic in Soldotna on Dec. 22, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Hospital full as omicron threat looms

The facility was operating at 106% Monday, even without a lot of COVID hospitalizations.

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Cases down, but officials urge vaccination against omicron

The state reported an average of 159.1 cases per 100,000 people across the state cumulatively over the past seven days.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
State Epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin speaks during a press briefing by the Alaska State Department of Public Health on Dec. 16, 2021. (Screenshot)

‘Yes, this pandemic will end’

But it’s going to take proactive work, health officials say

State Epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin speaks during a press briefing by the Alaska State Department of Public Health on Dec. 16, 2021. (Screenshot)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Eastern peninsula COVID cases decline

COVID cases on the eastern peninsula have been rapidly declining since late September.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Alaska reports its 1st omicron case

The case was reported in an Anchorage resident who had tested positive for the virus after traveling internationally.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Cases down statewide; uncertainty over omicron looms

On Friday, the state reported 453 new COVID cases, for a seven-day cumulative rolling average of 195 cases per day.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A student pets Wilson, a therapy dog, in a hallway at French Middle School, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. The dog is one of the tools designed to relieve stresses faced by students as they return to classrooms amid the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A student pets Wilson, a therapy dog, in a hallway at French Middle School, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. The dog is one of the tools designed to relieve stresses faced by students as they return to classrooms amid the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)