Alaska reported a new COVID-19-related death and 115 new cases of the virus between residents and non-residents on Saturday, spreading an increase in cases that has increased dramatically in recent weeks.
The new cases occur amid major outbreaks in the seafood industry, including an OBI Seafoods processing plant in Seward, where 98 employees tested positive, an American Seafoods factory carryover with 85 confirmed cases, a Alaska Glacier Seafoods in Juneau with 40 cases and, most recently, a Copper River Seafoods facility in Anchorage with 56 cases of the disease, announced Friday night.
As of Saturday, state data showed that there were 1,901 active cases of COVID-19 between residents and non-residents, while 947 people had recovered.
The new death reported Saturday involved a Fairbanks man in his 70s who had pre-existing conditions, according to an online statement from the state health department. The total number of Alaska residents whose deaths were associated with COVID-19 is now 20.
There were 30 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and eight under investigation. by Saturday, according to the health department. Statewide, 115 people with COVID-19 have been hospitalized through Saturday, an increase of four from the previous day.
The new cases reported Saturday involve 88 residents, including 48 in Anchorage; one in Eagle River; six in Wasilla; four in Palmer; five in Fairbanks; one in Esther; one at the North Pole; three in Soldotna; two in Seward; one at Sterling; one in Kenai; two in Córdoba; one in Kotzebue; one in Valdez, whose current residence is Kenai; three each in smaller communities in the Northwest Arctic District and the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area; one in Haines; one in Juneau; and one in Unalaska. The state also reported one new case each among residents of smaller communities in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area and the northern Kenai Peninsula.
Of the 27 nonresident cases reported on Saturday, 22 are workers in the fishing industry in Seward, one is in Kenai and four were classified as unknown.
According to the state department of health, the positivity rate of the state average tests for the last three days is 2.12%.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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