Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 108 cases and no new deaths reported Thursday and Friday
Alaska on Friday reported 108 new coronavirus infections identified over the last two days and no COVID-19-related deaths, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services.
The state’s overall alert level is currently low. Health officials continue to encourage Alaskans to get vaccinated against the virus, noting that the vaccines have been shown to be highly effective at preventing illness from the virus, including the more contagious variants.
By Friday, roughly 55% of the state’s population age 12 and older had received at least their first dose of the vaccine while 50% of residents 12 and older were considered fully vaccinated. Among all states, Alaska ranked No. 29 in the country for most vaccinated residents per capita.
There were 19 people with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 hospitalized around the state, including eight who were on ventilators — a slight increase from earlier in the week.
In total, 370 Alaskans and seven nonresidents with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic reached the state last spring. Alaska’s death rate per capita remains among the lowest in the country, though the state’s size, health care system and other factors complicate national comparisons.
The 103 newly reported cases among Alaska residents include 42 in Anchorage, 13 in Hooper Bay, six in Sitka, four in Fairbanks, three in Eagle River, three in Palmer, three in Soldotna, three in Wasilla, two in Chugiak, two in Valdez and one each in Anchor Point, Big Lake, Chevak, Cordova, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, Nikiski, North Pole, Sutton-Alpine, Tok and Unalaska.
Among smaller communities, there were three cases in the Nome Census Area, two in the Bethel Census Area, two in the Prince of Wales and Hyder Census Area, two in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area and one in the northern Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Another five cases were reported among nonresidents: four in Anchorage and one in an unidentified region of the state.
Of all the coronavirus tests completed in the state over the last week, 1.54% came back positive.
The health department now updates its coronavirus dashboard on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Because of the Independence Day holiday, the next data hub update will occur Wednesday.
