Margaret Bauman

Numbers of people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Alaska keep on slowly rising as state officials employ new mandates to slow the spread while building up health care resources to treat more anticipated patients. On Tuesday, March 31, the addition of 14 more people testing positive for COVID-19 pushed the statewide total to 133 people out of more than 4,600 who have been tested in Alaska.

State health officials reported five new cases of the novel coronavirus in Alaska on Monday, March 30, two each in Anchorage and Fairbanks and one in Palmer, boosting the statewide total to 119 people.

Twelve new cases of novel coronavirus in Alaska were confirmed on Sunday, March 29, all in communities with existing patients, boosting the statewide total to 114.

Small businesses in Alaska suffering substantial economic loss as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic are now eligible to apply for U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital.

Alaska had 102 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus as of Saturday, March 28, a boost of 17 over a day earlier.

State officials hoping to slow the spread of novel coronavirus-19 have levied new mandates for social distancing and intrastate travel, as the number of confirmed cases of the virus causing a global pandemic grew to 85 in Alaska.

Confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in Alaska have grown to 59, three of them hospitalized in critical condition, putting more pressure on efforts to contain its spread, while dealing with worsening socioeconomic conditions.

Alaska’s chief medical officer is imploring residents to stay home and away from other people for the next two weeks as medical providers built up the health care structure, least the state be overwhelming by the novel coronavirus causing a pandemic.

All persons entering the state are now required to self-quarantine for 14 days under a mandate announced Monday, March 23.

State health officials say 10 more people in three Alaska communities have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 32, with none of them hospitalized.