DHSS Press Release: Twenty two new cases of COVID-19 detected in four Alaska communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Twenty two new cases of COVID-19 detected in four Alaska communities

April 7, 2020 ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today announced 22 new cases of COVID-19 in four Alaska communities – Anchorage (10), Fairbanks (9), North Pole (2) and Bethel (1). This brings the total case count in Alaska to 213.

These new cases were reported from 12:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on April 6 and reflect data posted at noon today on coronavirus-response-alaska-dhss.hub.arcgis.com.

The Bethel case is the first for the Bethel census area (Southwest Region) and is associated with out-of-state travel. Alaska Division of Public Health staff are working with Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) staff to complete a thorough contact investigation.

“We are working closely with the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation and local public health nursing staff to identify people who may have been exposed to this person and offer appropriate testing, isolation, and quarantine guidance,” said Alaska State Epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin. “We are making every effort to respond earnestly to this situation to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in the region.”

Testing is now available in the region, through efforts from YKHC and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). ANTHC yesterday announced the distribution of 40 rapid testing machines and 2,400 test kits for diagnosing COVID-19 throughout communities in rural Alaska.

“Testing is confidential. Getting tested as soon as possible, when indicated by your provider, is one of the most effective, important ways to help one’s community in preventing the spread of this infection,” said Dr. Jacob Gray, Infectious Disease Physician at the Alaska Native Medical Center. “Practicing physical distancing and excellent hand hygiene will help prevent us from getting COVID-19, and being tested for COVID-19 can be very useful to the individual patient and the community.”

Of the new cases reported today, 12 are male and 10 are female. One case is an individual aged 20-29; five are aged 30-39; three are aged 40-49; seven are aged 50-59; four are aged 60-69; one is an aged 70-79; and one is an aged 80+. There have been 23 total hospitalizations and no new hospitalizations yesterday. A total of six Alaskans have died; there were no new deaths yesterday.

Stay informed

Alaska’s Response

• Find more information about how to keep yourself and your family healthy at the DHSS webpage, coronavirus.alaska.gov
• Visit the governor’s webpage on COVID-19 at gov.alaska.gov/covid19news
• Visit ready.alaska.gov/covid19 on the Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management webpage for Unified Command information, community press releases and other documents.

United States Response

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global Response

• The World Health Organization guides the global response.

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