This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

Health official: Alaska facing sharp surge in COVID-19 cases

Alaska has one of the highest case rates in the nation right now.

By Becky Bohrer

Associated Press

JUNEAU — Alaska is facing “one of the sharpest surges” in COVID-19 in the country, the state epidemiologist said Thursday, adding that it’s not clear when the situation might stabilize.

“A lot of it’s going to depend on vaccination coverage rates” and measures such as masking, distancing and avoiding crowds, Dr. Joe McLaughlin told reporters.

Health officials said hospitals are stressed, with staffing and capacity issues. The state health department reports about 20% of patients hospitalized in Alaska have COVID-19.

McLaughlin said COVID-19 cases “really started to go up in early July, and we’re still on the upward trajectory.”

In late June, the state health department reported increasing statewide transmission following a period of daily case counts in the double-digits, though the test positivity rate remained low, at 1.2%.

Currently, most areas of the state are considered at high alert status, based on reported cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days. The average percentage of daily positive tests for the previous seven days was reported Thursday at 9.7%.

McLaughlin said Alaska has one of the highest case rates in the nation right now. The state’s chief medical officer, Dr. Anne Zink, said there has been a 14% increase in cases this week compared to last.

Statewide, about 57% of residents 12 or older are fully vaccinated, according to the health department.

On Thursday, the Alaska Chamber announced the first winners of a weekly drawing intended to encourage people who haven’t been vaccinated to get vaccinated. The adult winner, Carin Kircher of Valdez, will get a $49,000 cash prize and the youth winner, Ethan Benton of Kodiak, will receive a $49,000 scholarship account, according to the chamber. Opportunities to enter continue through October.

There also will be a drawing for people who were vaccinated before Sept. 2. The deadline to enter for that is Oct. 30.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, speaking to reporters on the last day of the special legislative session Tuesday, said he encouraged Alaskans to get vaccinated. On social media the next day, he said the state will continue fighting COVID-19 “on many fronts. However, my Administration will likewise ferociously defend the fundamental rights of every Alaskan.”

On Thursday, Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor joined with the attorneys general of 23 other states in a letter to President Joe Biden. Biden has directed the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to write a rule requiring employers with at least 100 workers to mandate that employees get vaccinated against COVID-19 or test weekly.

The attorneys general call the plan illegal and “likely to increase skepticism of vaccines.” If Biden doesn’t change course, they vowed to pursue legal options.

Biden, in response to threatened lawsuits, last week said: “Have at it.”

Meanwhile, Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau announced that as a condition of employment, staff must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 15. The hospital, in a statement, said the terms apply to all employees and contract workers on the hospital campus.

According to the statement, 71 of the hospital’s 799 employees and medical staff are unvaccinated.

More in News

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchor Point man indicted for 3 shootings at Homer family planning clinic, recovery center

The grand jury returned 12 counts total for the three shootings

The entrance to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is barricaded on Overland Avenue in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Citing dangerous drivers, Kenai closes one entrance to visitor’s center

The barricade will be removed temporarily on Friday for Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities

A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Food bank seeks turkey donations as Thanksgiving nears

The local food bank is calling for donations of $25 to “Adopt-A-Turkey” for a local family in need

Seward City Hall is seen under cloudy skies in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward budget hearing covers bed tax, wages, emergency medical services

The Seward City Council on Nov. 12 considered a series of legislative items connected to 2025 and 2026 budget

The results of ranked choice tabulation show Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, winning reelection in the race for Senate District D. (Screenshot/Gavel Alaska)
Bjorkman, Vance win reelection after tabulation of ranked choice ballots

An effort to repeal ranked choice voting and the open primary system was very narrowly defeated

Jacob Caldwell, chief executive officer of Kenai Aviation, stands at the Kenai Aviation desk at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Aviation, Reeve Air submit proposals to bring air service back to Seward

Scheduled air service has been unavailable in Seward since 2002

Erosion damage to the southbound lane of Homer Spit Road is seen on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, following a storm event on Saturday in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
City, DOT work to repair storm damage to Spit road

A second storm event on Saturday affected nearly a mile of the southbound lane

Kenaitze Indian Tribe Education Director Kyle McFall speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Charter school proposed by Kenaitze Indian Tribe given approval by school board

The application will next be forwarded to the State Department of Education and Early Department

Suzanne Phillips, who formerly was a teacher at Aurora Borealis Charter School, speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Aurora Borealis charter renewal clears school board

The school is seeking routine renewal of its charter through the 2035-2036 school year

Most Read