DHSS: 145 new cases

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced 145 new COVID-19 cases in Alaska on Thursday, including seven on the Kenai Peninsula. Affected peninsula communities include Soldotna with six cases and Kenai with one case.

The new cases bring Alaska’s statewide case total to 62,060, including 59,528 reported among residents and 2,532 reported among nonresidents.

On Thursday, the Kenai Peninsula Borough had an average daily 14-day case rate of 6.42 cases per 100,000 people. The borough is considered to be at intermediate risk level.

Also on Wednesday, the state reported 63 new cases in Anchorage, 30 in Wasilla, nine in Eagle River, nine in Fairbanks, five in Delta Junction, five in Palmer, three in Chugiak, three in Salcha and one each in Cordova, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Healy, Kodiak, Nome, North Pole, Sitka and Tok. One new resident case has a location still under investigation.

Two new nonresident cases were reported in Anchorage.

The state also reported three new hospitalizations and one new death among Alaska residents, bringing statewide totals to date to 1,339 and 309, respectively. As of Thursday, there were 31 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Alaska, including two who were considered persons under investigation. Three of the patients were on ventilators.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.