Pandemic spread in triple digits holds for three weeks

COVID-19 cases continue rise, statewide count at 11,183 infected

A surge in the spread of COVID-19 in Alaska continues with numbers in the triple digits for 21 consecutive days, with 144 new cases, and four more deaths, boosting the overall number of statewide cases to 11,183 and the death toll to 64 residents.

The 143 new resident cases and lone new nonresident case boosted those totals to 10,171 residents and 1,012 nonresidents infected, state health officials said on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The latest figures posted on the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services dashboard show that 5,324 residents and 626 nonresidents have recovered, leaving active cases of 4,683 residents and 386 nonresidents, according to the latest DHSS dashboard data.

The death toll rose by four as of Tuesday, Oct. 13. The latest to succumb include a Juneau woman in her 60s, an Anchorage man in his 80s, an Anchorage man in his 70s and an Anchorage woman in her 20s.

As of Oct, 14 there were 40 people hospitalized who are diagnosed with COVID-19, plus 16 others under observation, for a total of 56 COVID-related hospitalizations, including seven patients on ventilators.

The death toll remains at 60 individuals, all of them residents, led by 36 in Anchorage.

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As of Oct.12 there were 59 people hospitalized with COVID-19 related issues, including 44 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 15 others whose medical condition is under investigation. Eight of those hospitalized were on ventilators.  Since the pandemic began earlier this year, a total of 345 people have been hospitalized.

The 143 newly infected residents include 89 in Anchorage, 11 each in Fairbanks and Eagle River, five in Juneau, four each in Nome Census Area and Utqiagvik, three in Kotzebue two each in Chugiak, North Pole and Wasilla, and one each in Bethel, Bethel Census Area, Bristol Bay/Lake & Peninsula boroughs, Fritz Creek, Homer, Kenai Peninsula South, Northwest Arctic Borough, Palmer, Sitka and Soldotna.

The new nonresident case was identified an someone in Anchorage in the seafood industry

DHSS officials noted on Tuesday, Oct. 13 that since the last update on Oct. 6 that an additional 20 residents and five staff at the Fairbanks Pioneer home have tested positive for COVID-19. That brought the total number of cases at the Fairbanks Pioneer home Since Sept. 21 to 29 residents and 24 staff. As of Oct. 13, 25 residents and 10 staff remain active with the novel coronavirus.

Statewide numbers for the increase in COVID-19 infections are at an all-time high and Alaska’s overall alert level continued to be high and trending up. DHSS officials are continuing to urge everyone to get tested if feeling ill, wear a mask, practice social distancing and hand washing, to help prevent spread of the virus.

Most cases and the most deaths from the virus have been in the state’s largest population areas, led by the Municipality of Anchorage, with 39 of the 64 deaths.

Statewide updates are provided daily by state health officials Alaska’s COVID-19 dashboard at covid19.alaska.gov.

The DHSS daily report reflects data from midnight to 11:59 p.m. which is posted at noon daily on the Alaska Coronavirus Response Hub.

As of Oct. 13, 517,177 tests had been conducted, including 15,673 tests in the previous seven days, DHSS officials said. The average percentage of daily positive test for the previous seven days was 4.48 percent.

Updates on the impact of COVID-19 are posted daily at coronavirus-response-alaska-dhss.hub.arcgis.com.

For Cordova updates, visit the city’s COVID-19 dashboard here.

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