Two new COVID-19 cases for Kenai Peninsula

By Michael Armstrong • May 30, 2020 5:30 am
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Signs along Poopdeck Street on Friday, May 29, 2020, in Homer, Alaska, offer inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Put up by the South Kenai Peninsula Resiliency Coalition, the signs read “Daily life loooks very different now. Routine and structure create a sense of safety. How can your daily rhythm support you?” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Signs along Poopdeck Street on Friday, May 29, 2020, in Homer, Alaska, offer inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Put up by the South Kenai Peninsula Resiliency Coalition, the signs read “Daily life loooks very different now. Routine and structure create a sense of safety. How can your daily rhythm support you?” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

The Kenai Peninsula Borough has two new positive cases of COVID-19, according to Saturday’s update from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. That includes one new case for Homer and one new case for a borough community with fewer than 1,000 people.

DHSS also announced two other Alaska cases, one for Anchorage and one for Wasilla, for a total of 434 cases. One new nonresident case was announced, bringing the nonresident case total to 19.

In Saturday’s test result report from South Peninsula Hospital, there are two new positive cases from drive-up testing done at the hospital, according to SPH Public Information Officer Derotha Ferraro. That brings the total case count for the borough to 38, eight for Homer and six for communities identified as “other.” There are no new hospitalizations at South Peninsula Hospital.

The report for May 30 reflects data from midnight until 11:59 p.m. on May 29 that posted at noon today on the Alaska Coronavirus Response Hub.

Camai Community Health Center issued a press release on Friday about two cases detected in the Bristol Bay Borough. These cases are not borough residents. One individual is a nonresident and the other is an Alaska resident with permanent residence outside the region. Both individuals had been in quarantine since arriving in the borough but are not seafood industry workers. They are now in self-isolation but are not acutely ill. Public health nurses have initiated a contact investigation and will continue to monitor both individuals.

Of the four Alaska cases, two are male and two are female. One each is aged 10-19, 20-29, 40-49 and 80 or older. There have been a total of 47 hospitalizations and 10 deaths with no new hospitalizations or deaths reported yesterday. Recovered cases now total 368, including one new recovered case recorded yesterday. A total of 51,695 tests have been conducted.

Of tests conducted at South Peninsula Hospital or through its testing facilities, 1,217 total tests have been done, of which 1,081 are negative, 14 are positive and 122 are pending.

The hospital recently added a testing facility on the Homer Spit at the Boat House Pavilion at the top of ramp 2. The testing is free to the individual and provides same-day results. No appointments are necessary, and the testing station is open daily until 7 p.m. Individuals are asked to provide a driver’s license or state identification, email address, Social Security number and phone number to register, and show an insurance card if insured. There is no charge to the individual. Printed and electronic results will be available via a patient portal. Additional testing is available 24/7 at the hospital’s main entrance parking lot at 4300 Bartlett Street. For more information about testing, call the covid nurse at the hospital at 235-0235.

Reach Michael Armstrong at marmstrong@homernews.com.

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