Seven new COVID-19 cases reported in Alaska after weekend spike that included care center
Alaska’s COVID-19 case count increased by seven Monday after a weekend that saw the biggest daily increase since the coronavirus was first confirmed in the state.
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reported seven more cases, for a total of 467, but no new hospitalizations or deaths. Three new cases were reported in Anchorage, one in Homer, one in Kenai and two others on the Kenai Peninsula in an unidentified location.
A total of 47 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19. Ten Alaskans have died of it.
The state also reported no new recovered patients. That means Alaska’s active COVID-19 cases rose by nearly 50 to 89 in the past week.
The state on Sunday reported 27 new cases, the highest daily increase since March. Twelve came from a transitional care facility operated by Providence Health and Services Alaska in East Anchorage.
Providence confirmed another case there Monday, bringing the total to 13. All 48 residents at the center have been tested, as have 96 residents at Providence Extended Care, a separate long-term care facility on the same campus, Providence officials said over the weekend.
About half the 300 caregivers who received tests were still waiting for results as of midday Monday, Providence spokesman Mikal Canfield said.
The outbreak at the center was discovered Friday after a resident with a cough and a fever tested positive. Hundreds of tests on residents and caregivers followed Friday and Saturday.
The majority of the new cases involved residents, Providence officials said.
They described the transitional care center as mostly rehabilitation-focused, with patients from their 20s to their 80s. A typical stay is between 40 and 50 days.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the virus spread within the facility or via another source. Municipal health workers were conducting contract tracing on caregivers and Providence was handling tracing for residents.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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