Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services reported 57 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The tally includes five cases on the Kenai Peninsula, one of which is associated with Soldotna High School.
The five Kenai Peninsula cases were identified as residents of Soldotna (two), Kenai (two) and Sterling (one). Pegge Erkeneff, communications director with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, said Wednesday that all close contacts of the Soldotna High School case have been identified and are quarantined.
The other resident cases occurred in Anchorage (22), Eagle River (one), Fairbanks (10), North Pole (three), Delta Junction (two), Palmer (two), Wasilla (two), Utqiagvik (three), Juneau (two), Yakutat plus Hoonah-Angoon (one), the Bethel Census Area (one) and Bristol Bay plus Lake and Peninsula Borough (one). The residency of one case is unknown, and one nonresident was identified in Anchorage.
Four additional hospitalizations were reported Wednesday, for a total of 270 since March. That number includes people who have either died or since recovered and gone home. Currently, 39 confirmed COVID-19 patients are hospitalized while four hospitalized patients are considered under investigation for the disease. Fourteen of those COVID-19 patients require treatment on a ventilator.
No new deaths were reported Wednesday.
A total of 433,198 tests for COVID-19 have been conducted statewide, and the average positivity rate of tests processed in the last seven days is 2.24%.
Locally, 18,879 tests have been conducted on the Kenai Peninsula for a seven-day positivity rate of 1.8%.
Central Peninsula Hospital had conducted 5,445 COVID-19 tests as of Wednesday, with 120 positive, 5,291 negative and 30 pending results. South Peninsula Hospital had conducted 8,995 tests, with 114 positive, 8,708 negative and 173 pending results.
A total of 2,415 Alaskans have recovered from the disease, while 4,482 resident cases are considered active.
Testing locations on the Kenai Peninsula:
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 Brian Mazurek at bmazurek@peninsulaclarion.com.
View the interactive map below to learn more about each testing location on the peninsula.
