While federal health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ended the public health emergency for COVID-19 on May 11, new cases are still being reported in Alaska, state officials say.
The CDC is no longer reporting all cases, but focuses on hospitalizations and deaths to demonstrate trends, Alaska Department of Health officials said this week.
Overall levels of COVID-19 and influenza cases have decreased over the past few months. Still, residents are advised to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
Syndromic surveillance consists of analyzing data on symptoms and diagnoses among patients visiting emergency rooms in Alaska. The main goal is to identify trends. Unlike case-based surveillance, syndromic surveillance does not depend on laboratory testing.
Influenza-like illness is defined as having a fever and at least one other symptom, such as a cough or sore throat. Patients with a diagnosis of influenza are also included, regardless of symptoms.
COVID-like illness encompasses a broader array of respiratory and other symptoms than influenza-like illness.
This includes any patient with a diagnosis of COVID-19, regardless of symptoms.
People at least 65 years of age who got their first bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster four weeks ago, or are moderately or severely immunocompromised and have received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster two or more months ago, may be eligible for an additional bivalent COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Anyone who suspects they are sick with a respiratory virus, even with mild symptoms, is advised to isolate for at least five days and wear a mask after leaving isolation.
