Updated: Thursday, July 2
COVID-19 cases continue to spike in Alaska, with state health officials reporting 50 new cases of COVID-19, among them 39 residents in 13 communities and 11 nonresidents in eight regions of the state.
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services on Thursday, July 2, identified resident cases by community as Anchorage, 13; Wasilla, 9; Palmer, 4; Seward, 3; Tok, 2 and one each in Big Lake, Chugiak, Kenai Peninsula North, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Kodiak, North Pole and Sitka.
Nonresident cases include one seafood worker in the Aleutians West census area, one from an unknown industry in the municipality of Anchorage, one seafood worker in the Bristol Bay and Lake & Peninsula boroughs combined, two seafood workers in the Dillingham census area, one of another industry in Haines Borough, three from an unknown industry in Kenai Peninsula Borough, and one each from unknown industries in the Kodiak Island and Petersburg boroughs.
Recovered cases now total 535, with seven newly recovered individuals as of Wednesday, July 1.
Earlier in the week, state health officials reported another new 74 resident cases in 16 communities and 15 nonresidents in six regions of the state.
State officials are urging everyone to celebrate the Fourth of July with caution and practice social distancing.
“This thing is a pain in the neck,” said Gov. Mike Dunleavy, during a pandemic news conference on Tuesday, June 30. “We don’t know where it’s going to go. We have a lot of balls in the air we are juggling with this pandemic. We’re all trying to learn as quickly as possible and make the best decisions that we can.”
Dr. Anne Zink, the state’s medical director, said that contrary to plans to limit testing for the virus that the state was trying to find ways to expand it.
“We are definitely seeing a sharp increase in cases in Alaska, and just like in other states, many of the recent new cases are in youth or younger adults,” Zink said. “Some of these cases are linked to bars in several communities. Going to a bar right now, especially to listen to a concert, should be viewed as a high-risk activity. The virus can spread easily in crowded indoor spaces especially when people are close together and singing or talking.”
There has been a total of 68 hospitalizations and 14 deaths, with one new hospitalization and no deaths during this reporting period. Recovered cases now total 528, including three newly recovered. Hospitalizations total 68 and the death toll stands at 14.
A total of 115,909 tests have now been conducted. The average percentage of daily positive test for the previous three days as of June 30 was 1.34 percent.
Updates on the impact of COVID-19 are posted daily at coronavirus-response-alaska-dhss.hub.arcgis.com.
