The state of Alaska reported 59 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday — 56 resident cases and three nonresident cases.
One of the new cases is in Homer, and another is in Soldotna.
In total, including both resident and nonresident cases, Alaska now has 2,967 active cases and 1,191 recovered and presumed recovered people, according to data on the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services’ coronavirus response hub website.
Cases reported by DHSS by noon each day reflect the cases that got reported to the state the day before.
The state has recorded a total of 25 deaths of Alaska residents that were related to COVID-19.
Also on Wednesday, the state reported one new hospitalization, for a total of 140 (137 residents and three nonresidents). That number includes people who have since died or since recovered. There were 32 people actively being hospitalized for confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, and six people being hospitalized for suspected cases. As of Wednesday, two people with COVID-19 were on ventilators, according to the state data.
Of the new resident cases reported Wednesday, 36 are in Anchorage, two are in Eagle River, one is in Homer, one is in Soldotna, two are in Fairbanks, one is in Delta Junction, one is in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, two are in Wasilla, one is in Willow, two are in Kotzebue, two are elsewhere in the Northwest Arctic Borough, one is in Juneau, one is in Ketchikan, two are in Sitka and one is in Bristol Bay plus Lake and Peninsula.
The new nonresident cases are in Anchorage and Juneau.
Homer now has a total of 63 COVID-19 cases, with 38 of them still active and the rest recovered.
As of Wednesday, the state had completed a total of 257,279 COVID-19 tests, with a 7-day positivity rate of 2.75%.
In Homer, testing continues to be available from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at South Peninsula Hospital’s main entrance as well as through SVT Health & Wellness clinics in Homer, Seldovia and Anchor Point. Call ahead at the hospital at 907-235-0235 and at the SVT clinics at 907-226-2228.
In Ninilchik, NTC Community Clinic is providing testing on Mondays, Wednesday and Friday. The testing is only for those traveling, symptomatic, needing testing for medical procedures, or with a known exposure after seven days. Only 20 tests will be offered per day. To make an appointment to be tested at the NTC Community Clinic, call 907-567-3970.
On the central peninsula, testing is available on the Central Peninsula at Capstone Family Clinic, K-Beach Medical, Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, Central Peninsula Urgent Care, Peninsula Community Health Services, Urgent Care of Soldotna, the Kenai Public Health Center and Odyssey Family Practice. Call Kenai Public Health at 907-335-3400 for information on testing criteria for each location.
Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.
This article has been updated to correct the number of new hospitalizations the state reported Wednesday. There was one new hospitalization.