COVID-19. (CDC)

COVID-19. (CDC)

COVID week in review: 2 deaths, more hospitalizations

Currently 36 COVID-positive patients are hospitalized; four require treatment on a ventilator

This week, Alaska saw another 535 new cases, 21 hospitalizations and two deaths associated with COVID-19, according to the latest data available from the Department of Health and Social Services.

This represents a slight increase in cases and hospitalizations from last week. Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink noted during Tuesday’s press conference that people of almost all ages are being hospitalized after testing positive for the disease.

The number of concurrent hospitalizations reached an all-time high this week. Currently 36 COVID-positive patients are hospitalized, four of whom require treatment on a ventilator.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has noted that hospitalizations and health care capacity are considered important metrics by the state when determining statewide policy actions related to COVID-19 response, such as the mask mandates or occupancy limits that have already been implemented in Anchorage, Seward and other municipalities.

The latest COVID-related death of an Alaskan was a man from Anchorage who was in his 80s, according to a Saturday press release from DHSS.

Two distinct outbreaks were identified this week: One among mine workers in Juneau and another aboard an Alaska Marine Highway vessel traveling form Kake to Juneau. Public health officials are conducting contact tracing for both of these outbreaks to identify any more related cases.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Alaska is currently the fifth-lowest among states. Alaska has experienced the fewest deaths of any state, according to reporting from the New York Times.

A total of 18,758 new COVID-19 tests were conducted this week, which represents almost a 50% decrease from previous weeks. On the Kenai Peninsula, a total of 13,854 tests have been conducted since the beginning of the pandemic.

This includes at least 7,073 tests at South Peninsula Hospital and 3,860 tests at Central Peninsula Hospital as of Friday, according to public information officers Derotha Ferraro and Bruce Richards. The Kenai Peninsula’s ratio of tests per person is one of the lowest among regions in the state at .24 tests per person, and is lower than the statewide average of .4 tests per person. The average positivity of tests conducted on the Kenai Peninsula in the last seven days is 3.82%.

Testing locations

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 Mondays, 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.

More in News

The Alaska Board of Fisheries hears public testimony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 18, 1999. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion file)
Board of Fisheries again declines to hold Upper Cook Inlet meeting on Kenai Peninsula

The State Board of Fisheries this week rejected calls from the Kenai… Continue reading

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski takes a selfie with Rose Burke at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Burke won the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington, D.C., in December to light the tree. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Connections student to light U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Rose Burke, 9, won the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington D.C.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Soldotna man arrested for possession of child sex abuse material

He was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility

A cruise ship is docked in Seward, Alaska on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward gets nearly $46 million for power upgrades at port

The funds are intended to transform Seward’s port into a “green port”

Troopers Joseph Miller Jr. and Jason Woodruff are seen in a screenshot from body camera footage taken in Kenai, Alaska, on May 24, 2024. (Photo provided by Alaska Department of Law)
Grand jury indicts 2 troopers on felony assault charge

The complaint cites both audio and body camera footage

Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Escott named new chief of Soldotna Police

Stace Escott has been promoted to chief of the Soldotna Police Department,… Continue reading

Campaign signs fill a wall near Paradisos Restaurant in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Candidates spend big on radio advertising, print mailers in final weeks of campaign

Only a week before the general election on Nov. 5, candidates are… Continue reading

An Alaska Division of Elections Official Election Pamphlet rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
When, where to vote in the 2024 general election

Tuesday is Election Day! Voters in the Kenai Peninsula Borough will head… Continue reading

Most Read