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As Alaskans commemorated Independence Day, the state reported another death tied to COVID-19 and 55 more cases among residents and nonresidents.
The 16th reported death of an Alaskan with COVID-19 involved an Anchorage man in his 70s with underlying health conditions, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services spokesman Clinton Bennett said Saturday. The man died in state, though Bennett was not immediately able to clarify when his death occurred.
Forty-eight residents and seven non-Alaskans newly tested positive for the illness caused by the coronavirus, according to the state health department’s COVID-19 dashboard. Since the start of the pandemic, 1,111 Alaskans and 230 nonresidents have tested positive. Of those, 551 resident cases and 174 nonresident cases are active, meaning they are not considered to be recovered from COVID-19.
Three more Alaskans confirmed to be infected with the virus required hospitalization, bringing that total to 72 since the coronavirus was first detected in the state.
Fourth of July celebrations were canceled across the state, prompting Alaskans to celebrate on a smaller scale this weekend and organize their own festivities. Ahead of the holiday, state officials — including Gov. Mike Dunleavy — urged Alaskans to wear face coverings and maintain a physical distance of 6 feet from other people to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
In the state’s largest city, emergency management officials urged Anchorage residents to celebrate Independence Day while actively taking steps to curb the spread of the virus, describing the holiday weekend as “a critical point in our community’s fight against COVID-19.”
Southcentral Alaska saw the bulk of new cases reported by the state Saturday. The new cases involve 32 residents of Anchorage, where the city health department confirmed COVID-19 exposure at more than a dozen establishments on specific dates in June. Health officials urged anyone who visited those businesses at the specified times to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested.
Elsewhere in Southcentral, four residents of Wasilla, one in Palmer, two in Willow and one in Soldotna also were confirmed to have COVID-19.
The state on Saturday also reported four cases among residents of Fairbanks, one in Fairbanks and one each in smaller communities in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Bethel Census Area and Bristol Bay plus Lake and Peninsula boroughs.
The Bristol Bay Area Health Corp. said in a statement that a Bristol Bay-area resident who developed symptoms of COVID-19 after traveling to Anchorage tested positive Friday. That person is self-isolating, and several close contacts of theirs were “instructed to remain in strict quarantine,” the health corporation said, adding that “the City of Dillingham and the affected village have also been notified of this new index case.”
New nonresident cases include a seafood industry worker and another person in Anchorage, two seafood industry workers in Valdez, two people in Fairbanks and one individual in Juneau.
On Friday, 2,524 tests were run, out of 122,732 since the start of the pandemic. Testing data reflects individual tests that were processed, and not necessarily the number of individuals who have been tested.
The state reports new virus cases daily based on test results returned the previous day.
Alaska health officials continue to urge Alaskans to maintain a distance of 6 feet from non-household members; frequently wash their hands; wear a mask in places where physical distancing is difficult to maintain; wipe down and sanitize frequently touched surfaces; stay home if they feel sick; and get a COVID-19 test if they’re experiencing symptoms of the illness.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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