Alaska COVID-19 and Influenza Case Update

Hello, 

The Alaska Department of Health COVID-19 and Influenza Update has been updated with data through July 8, 2023 and can be viewed here. 

COVID-19: 

• COVID-19 transmission continues to occur in many communities across Alaska. Most COVID-19 in Alaska at this time is caused by viruses belonging to either the XBB.1.5 lineage or to BQ lineages.
  

• To learn more about COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Alaska, visit the Cases Dashboard. While many infections with the virus that causes COVID-19 are not detected or reported, changes over time in the number of reported cases still provide useful information about the trajectory of COVID-19.
  

• On May 11, 2023, the federal Public Health Emergency ended. Impacts for Alaska are described in the April 24, 2023, Epidemiology Bulletin, Implications of the Ending of the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. CDC no longer reports all cases of COVID-19 but focuses on hospitalizations and deaths to demonstrate disease trends.
  

• This COVID-19 and Influenza report will be produced monthly for the rest of the summer.

Influenza (Flu"):

• Influenza is typically tracked weekly from October to May; however, in Alaska notable flu activity can occur throughout the year so we provide monthly updates from June-September.
  

• See the Alaska Influenza Snapshot to learn more about influenza cases. Influenza testing and case reporting practices during the current influenza season are likely different compared to practices that existed during influenza seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic. Interpretations of influenza case data should focus on trends and the timing of influenza activity rather than on comparing the number of reported cases across seasons.

Information and Resources:

• COVID-19 in Alaska

• COVID-19 Vaccines

• Alaska Vaccination Information

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