Seven new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed on the Kenai Peninsula yesterday.
That’s the highest number in a single day since the pandemic began. Two are in Homer, one in Kenai, one in Nikiski, and three in smaller communities in the borough. According to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the sources of infection for all seven cases are still under investigation. Statewide, 13 new cases were diagnosed yesterday, with one in Juneau, four in Anchorage and one in the North Slope Borough. Seven of the new cases are men and six are women.
Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, says the increase in the number of cases may come as a surprise, since numbers of new cases have been low recently. The state doesn’t know the source of transmission for the cases yet but more testing may be playing a role, Zink said. So far, almost 48,000 tests have been conducted.
There are currently 11 active cases on the Kenai Peninsula, for a total of 34 overall. Twenty-one Kenai Peninsula residents have recovered and two have died. Statewide, there are currently 49 active cases, with 10 deaths and 366 recoveries.
For more information about the coronavirus spread and response in Alaska, visit coronavirus.alaska.gov.
