COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise statewide

MAT-SU — Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is currently providing care for 43 COVID-19 positive patients while 55.7 % of Mat-Su residents have yet to receive any vaccination. There were 809 cases of COVID-19 among Alaska residents reported on Thursday with 37 cases reported among nonresidents.

Across the state, 206 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection and 29 require ventilators. Of the entire population of hospitalized persons in Alaska, 21.4 % have tested positive for COVID-19 and 21 Intensive Care Unit beds are available statewide. A total of 56 % of Alaska residents have been fully vaccinated while an additional 33,613 residents are awaiting their second dose of vaccine.

“Saturday, Sept. 4 was the last day we received an inbound transfer from outside of our service area. We are still admitting COVID patients from the Mat-Su Borough. We are assessing on a daily basis our capacity to receive COVID patients from other areas. It’s a fluid situation. Our current COVID census is less than what it was at the beginning of the week,” wrote MSRMC Director of Marketing and Public Relations Alan Craft.

Within the Mat-Su Valley, there were 154 new cases announced on Thursday among residents and one nonresident case. The 43 people hospitalized at MSRMC due to COVID-19 account for 46.7 % of the entire population of hospitalized persons and just one ICU bed is available out of 14.

“We have a COVID-dedicated wing in our medical-surgical unit, and we have a second COVID wing ready. We have the ability to create overflow COVID wings, if needed,” wrote Craft.

Of the 154 cases in the Valley, 89 were from Wasilla, 46 from Palmer, six each from Big Lake and Willow and two each from Houston and Sutton. The seven-day rolling test positivity among Mat-Su residents is 17 %. A total of 39.5 % of Mat-Su residents have been fully vaccinated, and an additional 4,236 Valley residents are awaiting their second dose of vaccine.