Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services reported 113 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday: 109 among residents and four nonresidents.
The resident cases occurred in 20 different Alaska communities: Anchorage (48), Juneau (14), Fairbanks (11), Utqiagvik (seven), Wasilla (six), North Pole (four), the Northwest Arctic Borough (four), Douglas (two), Palmer (two) and one each in Delta Junction, Dillingham, the Nome Census Area, Haines, Homer, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kotzebue, Soldotna and Wrangell.
The four nonresident cases occurred in Utqiagvik, Hoonah-Angoon-Yakutat combined area, Prudhoe Bay and Kotzebue.
The state also reported three additional hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 253, which includes people that have died or recovered and are no longer hospitalized. There are currently 34 COVID-19 patients hospitalized and another seven hospitalized patients under investigation for COVID-19, according to data from 22 hospital facilities across the state. Thirteen of those patients are being treated on a ventilator.
Statewide 415,863 COVID-19 tests have been conducted, with 13,714 tests conducted in the last seven days. The average positivity rate for test results that have been processed in the last seven days is 2.37%.
Locally, 18,238 COVID-19 tests have been conducted. The seven-day positivity rate for the Kenai Peninsula is .3%.
Central Peninsula Hospital has conducted a total of 5,240 tests with 5,061 negative results and 118 positive results, while 57 test results are pending.
South Peninsula Hospital has conducted 8,617 tests, with 114 coming back positive, 8,418 negative and 85 pending results. Public information officer Derotha Ferraro with SPH said in an email that the hospital reported its first positive test result in four weeks on Thursday.
No new cases have been identified in staff or residents for more than two weeks in any of the Alaska pioneers’ homes, according to a Thursday release from DHSS. Three elderly residents of the Anchorage Pioneer Home died after testing positive for COVID-19 following the outbreak. Because of increased case rates in their areas, the Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau Pioneer Homes are not allowing visitation until case rates decrease.
Kenai Peninsula testing
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.
