Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: One death and 116 infections reported Wednesday – Anchorage Daily News

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Alaska on Wednesday reported 116 new cases of COVID-19, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services COVID-19 dashboard.

One new death reported Wednesday involved a male Anchorage resident in his 70s, the state health department said.

In total, 59 Alaskans have died with COVID-19 since the pandemic began here in March.

Wednesday marked two straight weeks that Alaska has seen new daily case counts exceeding 100, the longest such streak since the pandemic began.

Statewide as of Wednesday, 34 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized while another 12 patients were awaiting test results.

Of the 116 new cases of COVID-19 involving residents, there were 56 in Anchorage; 28 in Fairbanks; five in North Pole; three in Seward; two in Chugiak; two in Kotzebue; two in Juneau; one in Bethel; one in Eagle River; one in Healy; and one in Big Lake.

Among communities smaller than 1,000 not identified to protect confidentiality, there was one new case in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area; one in the Northwest Arctic Borough; and 12 in the Nome Census Area.

No new nonresident cases were reported on Wednesday.

It wasnt clear how many of the people involved in the new cases were showing symptoms of the virus when they tested positive.

In total, 9,861 residents and nonresidents in Alaska have tested positive for the virus since March.

The states test positivity rate as of Wednesday was 4.28% over a seven-day rolling average, the highest it has been. The rate reflects the number of positive results divided by total tests performed. Health officials say levels over 5% may indicate communities arent doing enough testing.

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Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: One death and 116 infections reported Wednesday - Anchorage Daily News