Alaska reports 1,089 new coronavirus infections and two COVID-19 deaths over weekend – Anchorage Daily News

Felicia Moore draws a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 while working at the Anchorage School District Education Center vaccine clinic on Nov. 3. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Alaska reported 1,089 new COVID-19 infections and two additional deaths from Saturday to Monday.

COVID-19 cases in the state started declining recently after weeks of high daily counts. Alaska experienced a surge for much of September and October that squeezed hospital capacity and brought hundreds of deaths.

Cases over the weekend included 427 reported Saturday, 349 on Sunday and 313 Monday.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that Alaska has the fourth highest seven-day rolling case rate in the nation, following Minnesota, New Mexico and North Dakota. Alaska previously led the nation for weeks. The states seven-day case rate of 412 per 100,000 people Monday was still much higher than the national average of 170.

There were 146 people hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide by Monday, a decrease from a high of more than 200 people hospitalized on average since September, though up from the week before, when around 130 people were hospitalized statewide.

Last week, the head of the states hospital association said the situation in Alaskas hospitals was becoming more manageable.

On Monday, Alaska also reported an additional two COVID-19 deaths among two Anchorage women in their 80s or older.

Alaskas most recent surge made September and October the states deadliest stretch of the pandemic, with 255 deaths, roughly 31% of the 803 COVID-19 deaths among residents since the start of the pandemic. The state has also reported an additional 30 COVID-19 deaths among nonresidents.

Around 59% of Alaskans ages 5 and older had received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 54% were considered fully vaccinated by Monday.

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Alaska reports 1,089 new coronavirus infections and two COVID-19 deaths over weekend - Anchorage Daily News