An Anchor Point man in his 60s is the latest person to die of COVID-19. In a data summary for Nov. 26, the death was one of seven recent deaths reported by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. A Soldotna woman in her 50s also was reported to have died of COVID-19.
On the southern Kenai Peninsula, that brings to 17 the number of people who have died of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Eight have died from Anchor Point, eight from Homer and one from the other Kenai Peninsula South area.
South Peninsula Hospital had one new admission for COVID-19, according to an email Wednesday from Ferraro.
DHSS reported another two deaths on Tuesday, bringing the total of Alaska dead to 850.
In Tuesday’s report from DHSS for Monday, Alaska had 82 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and another three considered persons under investigation with COVID-19 for a total of 85. As of Tuesday’s report, 3,058 Alaskans have been hospitalized since the start of the pandemic. There were four new hospitalizations, with nine patients on ventilators. The percentage of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is 7.2%.
On the Kenai Peninsula, for Tuesday’s report there were 179 new resident cases and four new nonresident cases. Statewide, there were 145,581 total Alaska residents and 5,415 non residents.
On the peninsula, there were four new cases in Seward, two new cases each in Homer, Nikiski and Soldotna, and one each in Kenai and other Kenai Peninsula South.
For the reporting period of Nov. 24-30, according to DHSS, the southern Kenai Peninsula has seen 19 new cases, down from 67 last week, with 10 for Homer, six for Anchor Point and three for the Kenai Peninsula South.
According to the Kenai Peninsula School District’s COVID-19 dashboard, the southern peninsula on Wednesday had 136 cases per 100,000 or 19 actual compared to 151 cases per 100,000 or 56 actual for the central peninsula. The eastern peninsula had 254 cases per 100,000 or 13 actual.
Statewide, 61% of Alaskans age 5 or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, and 55% are fully vaccinated. The fully vaccinated rate for the Kenai Peninsula is 46%.
Alaska remains in the high alert level at 272.9.1 cases per 100,000 people. The statewide test rate is 5.64%.
South Peninsula Hospital has done 385 COVID-19 tests with 12 positive for the week of Nov. 24-30, Ferraro wrote in an email. That’s a 3% positivity rate, the same as last week.
In the same time period, there were three COVID-19 related visits to the emergency department and one new hospitalization. Four monoclonal antibody infusions were given.
Of all hospital staff, 70% are fully vaccinated and 72% in direct patient care are fully vaccinated.
Testing locations
Officials encourage anyone with symptoms to test for COVID-19, despite vaccination status.
The SPH COVID-19 testing and vaccine clinic is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Testing is for people with symptoms, traveling, for pre-procedure screening and for exposure six days after exposure of after being at social gatherings.
SVT Health & Wellness offers testing to anyone at its three SVT Health & Wellness locations: 880 East End Road, Homer (226-2228); 72351 Milo Fritz Ave., Anchor Point (226-2238), and 206 Main Street, Seldovia (907-435-3262).
Where to get vaccinated
Following current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna and Janssen COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are available for anyone who is six months or more after their initial series of the Pfizer or Moderna series and are age 18 and older or anyone who is at least two months after their Janssen vaccine.
Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and boosters are offered daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Janssen vaccines are offered only on Sundays and Tuesdays.
Pfizer vaccines for children ages 5-11 are available by appointment on Wednesday and Saturday.
Vaccines also are offered by appointment at Homer Medical Clinic and the SPH Family Care Clinic. For more information at the Bartlett Street clinic, talk to your doctor or call 235-0235 for additional information.
To make appointments at Homer Medical Center, call 235-8586.
To make appointments at the South Peninsula Family Care Clinic, call 235-0900. The Moderna, Pfizer and Janssen vaccines are offered.
Safeway – Homer, 90 Sterling Highway, offers clinics 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday by appointment or walk-ins. Call 226-1060 for appointments. The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines are offered.
Kachemak Medical Group, 4129 Bartlett Street, offers vaccines by appointment. Call 235-7000.
Ulmer’s Pharmacy, 3858 Lake Street, offers Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines by appointment of walk-ins. Call 235-7760.
Ninilchik Clinic, 15765 Kingsley Road, Ninilchik offers Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines by appointment and Pfizer on demand. Call 907-567-3970.
SVT Health & Wellness offers Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen and Moderna vaccines for established medical patients of the three SVT Health & Wellness locations: 880 East End Road, Homer (226-2228); 72351 Milo Fritz Ave., Anchor Point (226-2238), and 206 Main Street, Seldovia (907-435-3262).
Reach Michael Armstrong at marmstrong@homernews.com.
