UPDATED 5:52 pm: Another person has died in Fairbanks from COVID-19 complications, according to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. This is the second death announced in Fairbanks in two days that has been linked to the disease and marks the fifth coronavirus-related death in Fairbanks since the pandemic began.
A press release on Sunday afternoon identified the latest death as that of a 67-year-old man whose place of residence was not disclosed. It is unclear at this time whether the man suffered from underlying health complications.
This announcement by hospital officials comes just a day after a Saturday report from the State Department of Health and Social Services about the death of a 70-year-old COVID-related Fairbanks man who had underlying health problems.
The death announced by hospital officials on Sunday will be included in the data announced by the state on Monday.
Also on Sunday, the state broke its previous daily case record to report 231 new cases among 186 state residents, mostly from Anchorage, and 45 non-residents, most of whom are fishing industry workers in the district of the Kenai Peninsula.
Eleven residents of Fairbanks North Star Borough, nine from Fairbanks and two from the North Pole, are among the cases announced Sunday, while 154 of the resident cases are registered as Anchorage residents.
The remaining 21 resident cases include three residents of Eagle River, two residents of Juneau, Palmer, Wrangell and the combined Census area of Yakutat and Hoonah-Angoon and a resident of Chugiak, Homer, Houston, Ketchikan, Price of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Sitka, Wasilla, Unalaska, the Valdez-Cordova Census Area and the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area.
This brings the total number of Alaska residents who tested positive for COVID-19 since the disease first affected Alaska in mid-March to 2,524, of whom almost 67% are currently considered active.
The 11 new confirmed cases in residents of the Fairbanks North Star Borough bring the total of the municipality to 369, of which approximately 70% remain active.
Of the total 45 non-resident cases announced Sunday, three non-residents at Fairbanks North Star Borough have tested positive for the disease, one who is a visitor and two whose reason for being in the state is still unclear at this time.
A total of 34 non-resident workers in the fishing industry in Seward also tested positive.
A non-resident in the Ketchikan Gateway district was confirmed to have the disease and the last seven non-residents announced Sunday are in unknown locations. The reason why these eight non-residents are in the state remains unknown.
This brings the total number of nonresident cases in the state to 578. It is unclear at this time how many of those cases remain active.
The record count of cases was due to a number of different factors, according to Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum, who, in a statement Sunday, noted an accumulation of data in test results as one of the reasons why the daily total was so large. tall.
“Today’s high case count is due in part to our data team working to enter this backlogged data, but it also clearly shows that we are experiencing widespread community transmission,” Crum said Sunday, explaining that the test results they often come in patches.
That said, the commissioner urged Alaska residents to tighten social circles, avoid crowds, and remain vigilant with the use of masks and hygiene practices, warning that ignoring these actions will soon lead to an overflow of Alaska hospitals.
“We have been in the management phase of this pandemic since May. In order for us to continue to manage the virus, we must stop this current increase. Daily cases of more than 100 will soon decrease the capacity of our hospital bed, “said Crum.” Now is the time for Alaskans to keep their social circles small, keep a distance of 6 feet from each other, and cover their faces when 6 feet cannot be measured. kept. Let’s work together to curb the spread, to protect our vulnerable, and to keep our businesses and our economy running. “
Crum noted that additional “mitigation strategies” will be announced in the coming days, but did not elaborate on the nature of these strategies.
Governor Mike Dunleavy, until last week, took a strong stance against statewide health mandates. The governor stepped back from firm opposition with a policy that required the use of face masks and covers in state buildings when a distance of six feet is not possible.
It remains to be seen whether the governor will reverse his position against a statewide public masking policy as state numbers continue to rise.
No new hospitalizations were reported on Sunday. A total of 35 Alaska residents with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are currently hospitalized across the state along with eight other patients who are under investigation and awaiting test results.
A total of 207,264 tests have been performed. The average percentage of daily positive tests for the previous three days is 1.91%.
Contact writer Erin McGroarty at 459-7544. Follow her on Twitter: @FDNMpolitics.
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