The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reported 66 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, one of which is in Homer.

DHSS reported 65 new resident cases of the illness caused by the novel coronavirus on its coronavirus response hub website, as well as one new nonresident case. Three of the new cases announced are on the Kenai Peninsula — one in Homer and two in Soldotna. DHSS had also announced a new case in Homer on Tuesday.

Of the other new COVID-19 cases announced by the state Wednesday, there are 34 in Anchorage, 11 in Juneau, seven in Fairbanks, three on North Pole, two in Douglas, and one new case each in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Nome Census Area, Utqiagvik, Metlakatla and the Bethel Census Area.

The single new nonresident case announced Wednesday is in Prudhoe Bay.

Alaska now has a total of 5,896 COVID-19 cases in residents, and 894 total nonresident cases. According to the data hub, 3,717 of the Alaska resident cases are still active, while 691 of the nonresident cases are active.

So far, the stat has reported that 2,137 residents are recovered, or no longer needing isolation. There are 203 recovered nonresidents.

The state reports that 239 total Alaska residents have been hospitalized so far for confirmed cases of COVID-19, as well as six nonresidents. Those numbers include people who have since died or since recovered and gone home. According to the data hub, there are 37 people currently being hospitalized with confirmed cases of the illness, along with three people currently being hospitalized as people under investigation for suspected cases of COVID-19.

There have been 42 deaths of Alaska residents to date that have been related to the disease.

The average wait time for COVID-19 test results through the state laboratory according to state data is three days. Alaska has conducted 391,937 tests to date, which results in a seven-day average positivity rate of 2.25%.

Locally, South Peninsula Hospital has completed 8,197 total COVID-19 tests, according to hospital Public Information Officer Derotha Ferraro. Of those tests, 7,951 have come back negative, 133 are pending and 113 have been positive. The last time South Peninsula Hospital had a positive test result was Aug. 20, Ferraro said.

SVT Health & Wellness has conducted 693 total tests, according to clinic data updated on Tuesday. Of those, 11 tests are still pending, 680 have come back negative and only two have been positive.

The NTC Community Clinic in Ninilchik has conducted a total of 1,695 COVID-19 tests, according to data updated on Sept. 4, with 50 of those having come back positive.

Positive test results from hospitals and clinics do not necessarily reflect the number of people who have tested positive in those towns. People can get tested at any hospital or clinic, not just in their own town.

Testing

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 Monday, 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 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.

In Seward, testing is available at Providence Seward, Seward Community Health Center, Glacier Family Medicine and North Star Health Clinic.

Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.