Mat-Su averages more than 170 positive coronavirus tests per day since Thanksgiving

Since Thanksgiving, there have been nearly 800 positive tests reported for the virus that causes COVID-19 in the Mat-Su Borough according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

As of Thursday, the Mat-Su is averaging more than ten times what the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services considers a “high” infection rate.

A persistent concern as local and statewide cases continue to spike is the strain COVID-19 puts on medical staff and infrastructure.  As of Thursday, the state reports that more than a quarter of people currently hospitalized in the Mat-Su are confirmed to have COVID-19.  In addition, only one of the ICU beds in the borough was unoccupied.

While Anchorage is in the midst of a modified hunker-down order, Mat-Su officials have said that option is not available to them as a second-class borough. Their power is limited to borough-owned facilities. Instead, they have repeatedly encouraged borough residents to take precautions to avoid the spread of COVID-19.