Public Health

A sign for Peninsula Community Health Services stands outside their facility in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

PCHS to pursue Nikiski expansion, moves to meet other community needs

PCHS is a private, nonprofit organization that provides access to health care to anyone in the community

 

The Nikiski Senior Center stands under sunlight in Nikiski, Alaska, on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Support available for community caregivers

Nikiski Senior Center hosts relaunched Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program

 

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Peninsula COVID rate sharply drops

The snapshot was updated Thursday, Feb. 29, to include data through Feb. 24

 

Snow falls atop the Central Peninsula Diabetes Center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. The office opened in October, but a grand opening was held this week. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Central Peninsula Hospital adds Diabetes Center

The center has been seeing patients since October and held a grand opening Monday

Snow falls atop the Central Peninsula Diabetes Center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. The office opened in October, but a grand opening was held this week. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Kenai Peninsula COVID-19 case rate continues to climb

State reports three consecutive week-over-week increases to new high

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula resident dies of Alaskapox, 1st documented fatal case

Seven total infections of Alaskapox have been reported to the State’s Section of Epidemiology

Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Peninsula COVID case rates still elevated

Starting in December, several areas of the state saw significant spikes in COVID activity

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Volunteers sit at rows of tables or in curtained off booths during Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Volunteers sit at rows of tables or in curtained off booths during Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Kenai Peninsula sees sharp rise in COVID-19 activity

Weekly cases of COVID-19 by region are reported via the department’s Respiratory Virus Snapshot

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Mersha Tamrat, right, gives free haircuts to attendees at the 13th Annual Project Homeless Connect at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Helping with ‘the step up’

Project Homeless Connect returns for 13th year in Soldotna

Mersha Tamrat, right, gives free haircuts to attendees at the 13th Annual Project Homeless Connect at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

COVID activity declines statewide for 2nd week

Cases of COVID-19 had surged upward, statewide, beginning in December

Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Volunteers sit at rows of tables or in curtained off booths during Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Project Homeless Connect set for Tuesday

The one-day event is intended to provide a place where all area service providers come together to provide referrals, information or services

Volunteers sit at rows of tables or in curtained off booths during Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A graph showing the week by week case counts of RSV, the flu and COVID-19 in Alaska, part of the State Department of Health’s Respiratory Virus Snapshot. (Courtesy Alaska Department of Health)

COVID, RSV trend downward in state data

While a COVID spike has been observed state- and nationwide for much of December and January, the same rise hasn’t been so sharp on the Kenai Peninsula

A graph showing the week by week case counts of RSV, the flu and COVID-19 in Alaska, part of the State Department of Health’s Respiratory Virus Snapshot. (Courtesy Alaska Department of Health)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State data: Kenai Peninsula Borough not seeing statewide rise in COVID activity

A state and nationwide upward trend in COVID-19 activity has seen spikes in case counts and hospitalizations, but state data indicates the surge hasn’t made… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Madyson Knudsen a bandage at the Kenai Public Health Center after the 10-year-old received her first COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

Department of Health urges flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines

Only 18.5% of Alaskans have received a flu vaccine as of last week

Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Madyson Knudsen a bandage at the Kenai Public Health Center after the 10-year-old received her first COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Report: Adverse childhood experiences ‘common’ in Alaska

ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood

Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Snapshot: Flu cases down statewide, growing on peninsula

The State Department of Health’s respiratory virus snapshot tracks the activity of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19

Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Central Peninsula Hospital marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Hospital employees marked the month by wearing pink surgical gloves

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

2022 overdose deaths slightly down from previous year

Deaths still far surpassed those recorded during last decade

Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)