Covid-19 : Monitoring COVID-19 in Alaska: three deaths and 284 new instances reported on Tuesday
State information confirmed all three deaths concerned Anchorage residents.
In whole, 178 Alaskans and one nonresident with COVID-19 have died because the pandemic started right here in March. Alaska’s total demise charge per capita is among the many lowest within the nation, however officers say it’s tough to check Alaska to different states due to its huge geography and susceptible well being care system.
By Tuesday, there have been 133 individuals with COVID-19 hospitalized statewide and one other seven individuals in hospitals who have been suspected to have the virus. In whole, 14.6% of individuals hospitalized in Alaska had COVID-19.
All through the state there have been 38 staffed grownup intensive care unit beds left open. In Anchorage, the place the state’s sickest sufferers usually find yourself, solely three of 72 intensive care unit beds have been accessible.
Whereas stretched hospital staffing has remained a major concern, Anchorage Well being Division director Heather Harris stated in a current media briefing that hospitals do have the capability to shift their staffing round in the event that they run out of ICU beds.
New virus instances, hospitalizations and deaths have been on the rise statewide for weeks, however Tuesday’s every day case depend was the bottom Alaska has seen since Oct. 23, when 239 instances have been recorded. The brand new low got here two weeks after Anchorage entered a month-long, modified model of a hunker-down aimed toward bringing case counts down and defending hospital capability.
In the meantime, 1000’s of the primary doses of a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech have arrived in Alaska. The doses will probably be distributed first to hospital-based front-line well being care staff adopted by workers and residents of long-term care amenities starting this week. Subsequent up will probably be EMS and fireplace personnel offering medical companies, group well being aides and practitioners and folks required to carry out vaccinations.
It’s unclear precisely when most of the people could have entry to a vaccine, however possible late spring or summer season, well being officers have stated.
“We see light at the end of tunnel,” stated Gov. Mike Dunleavy, at a briefing on Tuesday. “These vaccines are going to be a game-changer.”
Dunleavy stated that he plans on getting vaccinated.
Of the 277 new instances reported in Alaska residents Tuesday, there have been 125 in Anchorage, plus 4 in Chugiak and two in Eagle River; two in Homer; 4 in Kenai; one in Nikiski; one in Seward; one in Soldotna; one in Sterling; 24 in Kodiak; 17 in Fairbanks, plus 9 in North Pole; two in Delta Junction; one in Tok; two in Large Lake; eight in Palmer; 24 in Wasilla; 10 in Utqiagvik; one in Douglas; 9 in Juneau; one in Ketchikan; 5 in Sitka; one in Skagway; two in Bethel; one in Dillingham; and one in Hooper Bay.
Amongst communities smaller than 1,000 individuals not named to guard privateness, there have been two within the Cordova Census Space; one within the Fairbanks North Star Borough; one within the Nome Census Space; two within the North Slope Borough; two within the Bethel Census Space; one in Bristol Bay plus Lake and Peninsula space; and 9 within the Kusilvak Census Space.
Of the seven new instances reported in nonresidents, there have been 5 in Anchorage and two in an unidentified area of the state.
Whereas individuals may get examined greater than as soon as, every case reported by the state well being division represents just one particular person.
It isn’t clear how lots of the individuals who examined constructive have been exhibiting signs. The CDC estimates a few third of individuals with coronavirus infections are asymptomatic.
The statewide take a look at positivity charge was 6.14% over the past week, after reaching a peak of over 9% in mid-November. Well being officers stated {that a} positivity charge above 5% can point out widespread group transmission.
