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

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

As COVID cases fall statewide, hospital feels relief

COVID cases have been plummeting in Alaska since mid-January

COVID-19 hospitalizations are still down at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, as new cases continue to drop nationwide and throughout Alaska.

Bruce Richards, the external affairs director at CPH, said Tuesday the downward trend is helping with hospital capacity.

“We still have some COVID patients in the hospital, but it’s a manageable amount,” he said.

Fewer employees are out with COVID or as close contacts as well, he said.

“We have 30 people out on quarantine,” Richards said Tuesday. “And we’re continually coming down on that front as well. So yeah, things are improving.”

According to state data, COVID cases have been plummeting in Alaska since mid-January. From the week of Feb. 14 to the week of Feb. 21, cases fell by 29%.

COVID hospitalizations in the Gulf Coast region, which includes the Kenai Peninsula, dropped dramatically from late October 2021 to mid-January of this year. Hospitalizations have increased slightly since then, but still remain relatively low.

On Feb. 27, there were 10 COVID hospitalizations in the Gulf Coast. Richards said no COVID patients at CPH were intubated as of Tuesday.

“Things are going fine; we don’t have anybody on ventilators,” he said. “Everything’s downward trending, which is good.”

Although CPH isn’t being hit by an influx of COVID patients, the hospital is still busy, Richards said.

“This morning (we’re) over capacity, we just have a lot of people here,” he said. “But it’s not related to COVID. We do have some COVID patients, but we’re not full because of COVID.”

CPH has 49 regularly licensed beds, but had 52 inpatients as of Tuesday morning. That put them at 106% capacity.

Richards said some patients were scheduled to be discharged Tuesday.

“We’ll get back down,” he said. “This is kind of where we’ve been bouncing around — you know, we’re just below, just above, just below full capacity.”

The hospital staff is feeling a little relief with falling cases again, Richards said.

“Everything’s been COVID, COVID, COVID for so long, you know,” he said. “We do have some patients, but it certainly is starting to trail off and we’re thankful for that.”

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

The Kenai Peninsula College main entrance on Aug. 18, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Chiappone and Dunstan to speak at the KPC Showcase

Kenai Peninsula College continues its showcase with two new speakers this week and next

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, talks about issues of concern regarding the proposed merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertsons during a floor speech in the House chamber on Wednesday. (Screenshot from official U.S. House of Representatives video feed)
Begich leads in early results, but Alaska’s U.S. House race won’t be immediately decided

About 245,000 ballots had been counted by 11:32 p.m., and Peltola trailed by about 5 percentage points

The Alaska governor’s mansion on Wednesday. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is considered a contender for a post in Donald Trump’s second presidential administration. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Election summary: Trump wins, GOP takes over U.S. Senate, Alaska may get new governor

Begich and repeal of ranked choice voting narrowly lead; GOP may lose control of state House.

Nesbett Courthouse in downtown Anchorage on Oct. 7, 2024. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Voters line up at the polling site at Anchorage City Hall on Nov. 4, 2024. City Hall was one of the designated early voting sites in Alaska’s largest city. It is not a designated site for Election Day voting. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Republicans lose two seats in state House, increasing odds of leadership switch

Rural Alaska precincts had reported few results by 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

Donald Trump won or was leading as of Wednesday morning in all seven swing states in the 2024 presidential election. (Doug Mills / The New York Times)
Donald Trump returns to power, ushering in new era of uncertainty

He played on fears of immigrants and economic worries to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris.

A voter is handed as ballot at Woodworth School in Dearborn, Mich., on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. One of the most consequential presidential elections in the nation’s modern history is well underway, as voters flocked to churches, schools and community centers to shape the future of American democracy. (Nick Hagen/The New York Times)
Trump verges on victory, picking up Pennsylvania

Donald Trump has captured Pennsylvania, the biggest prize of the seven battleground… Continue reading

Signs and supporters line the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Unofficial results for the 2024 general election

Preliminary, unofficial election results as of 9:55 p.m.

Poll worker Carol Louthan helps voters submit ballots at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Bjorkman, Ruffridge, Elam and Vance lead in election night results

Several residents said that they came out to vote because they knew this election was “a big one.”

Most Read