Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: Five deaths and 128 new cases reported on Friday
Updated COVID-19 tracking graphics will be added to this article today.
The state on Friday reported five new deaths and 128 new cases of COVID-19, according to the Department of Health and Social Services COVID-19 dashboard.
According to state data, the five new deaths involved three Anchorage residents and one resident each from Soldotna and Fairbanks, though it wasn’t clear when the deaths occurred. In total, 51 Alaskans have died with COVID-19 since the pandemic began here in March.
While Alaska’s death rate remains among the lowest in the country, Friday marked the highest single-day death toll from the virus.
Statewide as of Friday, 39 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 while four other hospital patients were awaiting test results, according to state data. Of Alaska’s 153 intensive care unit beds, 85 were in use statewide. Fourteen people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections were on ventilators as of Friday afternoon.
Active cases of COVID-19 among Alaska residents fell from 4,519 on Thursday to 4,424 on Friday. According to state data, there are also 684 active cases among nonresidents.
Of the new cases, it wasn’t clear how many people were showing symptoms of the virus when they tested positive.
Of the 127 new cases of COVID-19 involving residents, there were 68 new cases in Anchorage; 22 in Fairbanks; nine in North Pole; six in Juneau; three in Chugiak; three in Utqiagvik; two in Eagle River; two in Kotzebue; one in Soldotna; one in Delta Junction; one in Palmer; one in Wasilla; and one in Bethel.
Among communities smaller than 1,000 not identified to protect confidentiality, there was one new case in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area; three in the Nome Census Area; two in the Bethel Census Area; and one in Bristol Bay.
The only new nonresident case was in Anchorage.
The state’s testing positivity rate as of Friday was 2.31% over a seven-day rolling average.
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