Mat-Su COVID-19 case rates remain second-highest in the state

The rate of transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 continues to slowly decrease around the state; that’s according to the weekly pandemic update from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

According to the update, which was released Wednesday, Alaska’s current rate of transmission, if continued, would lead to fewer future cases.  D-H-S-S says the decrease in transmission has plateaued somewhat in the last week.

The statewide total case rate is also falling, with 16.3 active cases per 100,000 Alaskans for the week ending February 20^th.  While the Yukon-Kuskokwim region still has the highest case rate with nearly forty cases per 100,000 people, it’s COVID numbers have been falling significantly.  Meanwhile, the Mat-Su saw a very slight decrease in case rates with about 35 per 100,0000.

As of Monday, more than a quarter of Alaskan adults have received at least one shot of vaccine for COVID-19.  In total, almost a quarter-million doses have been administered statewide.  Information on vaccine eligibility and availability is available at covidvax.alaska.gov.