Statewide hospitalizations remain high as new COVID cases dip

Alaska DHSS announced 1,686 new cases of COVID over the weekend and 5 new deaths.

The five Alaska residents who died were:

• A female Anchorage resident in her 70s
• A female Anchorage resident in her 50s
• A male Anchorage resident in his 50s
• A male Kodiak resident in his 50s
• A male Wasilla resident in his 40s

According to the state's COVID dashboard, 229 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state, with 34 patients currently reported as being on ventilators. 16 staffed adult ICU beds were reported as currently available statewide.

In Anchorage, 110 patients are currently hospitalized among the city's three hospitals, with only 1 staffed adult ICU bed reported as being available. In neighboring Mat-Su, 43 patients were hospitalized with COVID, according to the state's dashboard, with no staffed adult ICU beds reported as being available.

Data taken from the state's modeling application appears to show that both the state and the Municipality of Anchorage are experiencing a downward trend in the number of new COVID cases.

There were 4,817 resident cases reported during the week of October 18-24. The week prior, October 11-17 the state reported 5,844 resident cases of COVID-19.