COVID-19 instances are dropping in Alaska, officers mentioned throughout a press briefing on Thursday, however transmission danger degree stays excessive.
“It has been really … relieving to see a slight decrease in our percent positivity as well as the number of hospitalized patients secondary to COVID-19,” Chief Medical Officer Anne Zink mentioned Thursday. “We’re still in that high zone … but it’s a much better trend than what we’ve been seeing in the past.”
The rolling common of newly reported COVID instances is a cumulative determine that estimates what number of statewide instances have been reported over the previous seven days per 100,000 folks.
Based on the Division of Well being and Social Companies Friday, the seven-day rolling common was 572.8 per 100,000. Two weeks prior it was 744.7.
Though instances are trending downward, Friday’s seven-day cumulative common had surpassed the excessive danger threshold greater than 5 occasions. The state deems any quantity above 100 instances per 100,000 excessive danger.
On Friday, the DHSS reported 870 new COVID instances throughout the state.
The case depend included 19 in Soldotna, 10 in Kenai, seven in Homer, 4 within the Kenai Peninsula Borough North, two every in Anchor Level and Sterling, and one in each Nikiski and Seward.
There was additionally a brand new virus dying reported, an Anchorage man in his 70s, pushing the full variety of Alaska COVID fatalities to 714 for the reason that pandemic started.
Zink mentioned that at the same time as instances pattern down, deaths and hospitalizations are lagging indicators.
“Remember deaths lag, and unfortunately, we’re still just seeing many people be impacted,” she mentioned. “It was pretty humbling … to see that the U.S. as a whole has reached a quarter of a million people who have died secondary to COVID-19 — (it’s) just a lot of people and always makes me pause.”
There have been 170 COVID-related hospitalizations throughout Alaska as of Thursday, with 25 sufferers on ventilators.
At Central Peninsula Hospital there have been 19 COVID sufferers on Thursday morning — 18 of them unvaccinated — with 5 within the intensive care unit and two on ventilators. The hospital as an entire was working at 127% capability.
Well being officers broadly agree that vaccination is the easiest way to forestall severe sickness, hospitalization and dying from COVID.
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention prolonged the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine for teenagers ages 5 to 11 on Nov. 2, giving eligibility to a different 28 million folks within the U.S.
Pfizer is permitted for everybody 5 years and older, whereas the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines are permitted for anybody 18 and older.
Pfizer and Moderna boosters and extra doses are additionally obtainable for sure high-risk populations. Anybody who acquired the single-shot J&J vaccine is really useful to get a booster of any model.
Getting a COVID vaccine
COVID-19 vaccines don’t price cash.
Many various organizations on the central peninsula, together with Walmart, Walgreens, the Kenai Hearth Division and Kenai Public Well being, provide vaccines. They’re additionally obtainable for each residents and guests at airports in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks.
Moreover, Soldotna Skilled Pharmacy hosts a walk-in clinic in its strip mall storefront on the “Y” intersection of the Sterling and Kenai Spur highways. The hours have been prolonged from 10 a.m. to eight p.m. Monday by way of Friday, in addition to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Vaccination appointments may also be scheduled by way of the net portal PrepMod, which will be accessed at myhealth.alaska.gov.
A map of vaccine suppliers will be discovered on DHSS’ COVID-19 vaccine web site at covidvax.alaska.gov.
Individuals who would love help with scheduling a vaccination appointment can name the Kenai Peninsula Borough Workplace of Emergency Administration name middle. The middle operates Monday by way of Friday from 9 a.m. to midday. The central peninsula name middle will be reached at 907-262-4636. The Homer name middle will be reached at 907-235-4636. The Seward name middle will be reached at 907-224-4636.
COVID testing areas
Officers encourage anybody with signs to check for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination standing.
In Kenai, testing is out there on the Chignik Lagoon Clinic, Odyssey Household Apply, Kenai Public Well being Middle and Capstone Clinic.
In Soldotna, testing is out there on the Peninsula Group Well being Middle, Pressing Care of Soldotna, Walgreens and Soldotna Skilled Pharmacy.
In Seward, testing is out there at Windfall Medical Middle, Chugachmiut-North Star Well being Clinic, Glacier Household Drugs, Seward Group Well being Middle and the Safeway pharmacy. The Seward Group Well being Middle is providing drive-thru testing Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
In Homer, testing is out there at South Peninsula Hospital, or by way of different space well being care suppliers at Seldovia Village Tribe Well being and Wellness, Kachemak Medical Group and Homer Medical Middle.
Attain reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.
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