State COVID-19 total hits 300

Alaska hit 300 positive COVID-19 cases Thursday, but state officials also reported that 110 individuals who had tested positive are now considered recovered.

“We’ve been fortunate in the state of Alaska. Here, we have not seen that spike,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a press conference Thursday evening in Anchorage.

Dunleavy continued the conversation about gradually reopening sectors of the state’s economy. On Wednesday, Dunleavy announced a multi-phased plan to reopen the state’s healthcare industry, which includes allowing non-urgent and elective health procedures starting May 4.

“We haven’t seen the large spike we’ve anticipated. As a result of that, we are beginning to open up sectors of the economy,” Dunleavy said. “We want to do this as quick as possible, but it’s very important that I reiterate that it’s not at the expense of Alaskans.”

Dunleavy said state officials will be constantly looking at the data.

“The moment we see something, a spike, a cluster, then we’re going to act very quickly,” Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy said there has been a total of 8,735 COVID-19 tests in Alaska.

Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink said, with the 300 positives, the number of tests that have come back positive stands at 3.4 percent.

“That’s held steady for the last couple of days, which is great to see. In general we’re working to drive that number down as much as we can,” Zink said via teleconference on Thursday.

Of the seven new cases reported Thursday, four are in Anchorage and two are in Juneau. Kodiak also had a positive COVID-19 test, the first case in that community. There was one new hospitalization.

The Mat-Su Borough stands at 15 positive cases, with nine in Wasilla and six in Palmer.

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