COVID-19 alert level remains low in the Mat-Su

MAT-SU — On Friday, the total number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Alaska grew by 127 to 8,202 total cases statewide.

Of those 8,202, 7,254 are Alaska residents. A total of six more deaths due to the covid virus were reported on Friday by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, as 52 people have now died in Alaska as a result of the virus. Alaska has conducted 441,332 tests statewide thus far. Of the 7,254 cumulative resident cases of COVID-19, 4,424 of those remain active. A total of 39 people require hospitalization across Alaska. The alert level in the Mat-Su remains low as the North Slope region joined Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau on high alert level. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region is listed at an intermediate level of spread.

Only four new cases were reported in the Mat-Su on Friday with three attributed to the five zip codes that make up the Wasilla region and one new case in Palmer. The DHSS has attributed 354 cases to the Wasilla area with 232 remaining active. Palmer has had 176 total cases with 105 total. Willow has had 20 total positive cases with nine still active and Big Lake has reported 18 positive cases with 11 still active. A total of 609 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Mat-Su, 588 of those positives among Valley residents. There are currently nine active nonresident cases in the Mat-Su. No one is currently hospitalized at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center due to COVID-19, where 19 cumulative patients have received care for the covid virus. Of the 588 cases among Mat-Su residents, 360 remain active. A total of 26,828 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the Mat-Su and DHSS lists the 7-day positivity rate at .56 percent.