Alaska reported the second highest daily count of COVID-19 cases on Wednesday as state-wide viral hospitalizations hit record highs for the second consecutive day.
According to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, 801 new cases of the coronavirus were reported across the state on Wednesday. Dashboard. Alaska recorded even more cases a day on December 4, with 906 cases.
A state epidemiologist said in a public relations call Wednesday that the spread of the infection meant that it was difficult to identify a particular outbreak.
“COVID is everywhere,” said Luisa Castrodale, an epidemiologist at the State Department of Health. “Events where people are close to others, where we see communication happen. And when there is so much activity, people can have three or four exposures. .. And it may not be clear where the source of their COVID was. “
By Wednesday, the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association reported that at least 166 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 around the state. This is more than any point in the pandemic, including the previous surge.Tuesday, state 152 people hospitalized for COVID-19 were reported, And on weekends, 151.
Health officials say hospitals in Alaska continue to operate under unsustainable levels of stress, and severe staff shortages and the recent influx of COVID-19 patients pose significant capacity challenges. increase.
Hospitals report long ER waiting times, sporadic postponement of surgery, and a workforce with exhausted burnout.
Recent COVID-19 hospitalizations have occurred among unvaccinated people. In July, 80% of virus-related hospitalizations involved people who were not completely vaccinated.
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Four new resident deaths associated with the virus were also recorded on Wednesday, but it was not immediately clear how recently they occurred. A total of 435 Alaskans and 13 non-residents have died since the pandemic arrived in Alaska in the spring of 2020.
In Anchorage, more firefighters were infected with COVID-19 amid a surge in incidents across the region, the Anchorage fire department said details were unknown.
“Our workforce is a cross-section of our community, and as a result, cases within our employees are increasing,” said Assistant Chief Alex Boyd. “As a result of regular pre-work health checks, we saw an increase in responders complaining of symptoms and an increase in the number of members undergoing COVID testing.”
The department did not respond to the number of cases reported among staff, or the number of currently active cases and which fire department.
According to Boyd, the increased use of sick leave has not adversely affected the fire department’s response and has not reduced its services. The agency does not say what the immunization rate is, but “benefites the high workforce immunization rate among our first responders.”
Anchorage police have not seen an increase in COVID-19 cases or police leave affecting operations, said Deputy Chief Gerald Aserin. If that happens, he said plans are underway to shift officers for details such as traffic and school officers to respond to patrol calls.
The department does not track immunization rates among officers.
By Wednesday, approximately 61% of Alaska Natives over the age of 12 had been vaccinated at least once, and 55% were considered fully vaccinated.
Of all the tests conducted last week, 7.5% returned positive.
Contributed by Daily News reporter Michelle Terio Boots.
This is a developing story and will be updated.