Recent COVID-19 numbers have improved, but state officials continue to urge caution

Alaska saw its highest daily case counts in late Novemeber and early December.  In the last two weeks, state officials say the drop in the number of new cases seems to indicate that the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 is slowing.  An update sent Wednesday afternoon credits some of the reduction to people who are practicing social distancing and utilizing face coverings in public.  The same update says if the current trend continues, then case numbers could be cut in half in twenty days.

The Mat-Su Borough has also seen a significant decline in the number of new cases of COVID-19 according to state data. The Mat-Su has gone from averaging around 200 new cases per day at the beginning of December to fewer than 100 per day as of December 29^th.  The Mat-Su has trended above the statewide average for new cases for much of December, including for the last two weeks.

Fewer cases has also translated to fewer people hospitalized with COVID-19.  In the last week, the number of people under in-patient care with the disease has dropped by more than a third.

Wednesday’s update from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services also gave an update on vaccinations for COVID-19 within the state.  As of Wednesday, more than 13,000 initial vaccine doses have been administered.  The majority of those are the Pfizer vaccine, which was the first approved by the federal government, but doses of the Moderna vaccine have also begun to circulate.  The state is currently in planning phases for vaccinations going forward.

While the current numbers are encouraging, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services continues to urge Alaskans to celebrate holidays with members of their households and to avoid large gatherings.