SitNews - Stories in the News - Ketchikan, Alaska

Alaska COVID-19 Update

Posted & Edited by MARY KAUFFMAN

 

April 21, 2020
Tuesday PM


(SitNews) Anchorage, Alaska - The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today announced eight new cases of COVID-19 in four Alaska communities – Anchorage (4), Juneau (2), Eagle River (1), and Ketchikan (1). This brings the total case count in Alaska to 329 as of April 20, 2020.

Of the new cases, six are male and two are female. One is aged 10-19; four are aged 20-29; two are aged 50-59; and one is aged 60-69. There have been a total of 36 hospitalizations and nine deaths with no new hospitalizations or deaths reported Monday. Recovered cases now total 168, including seven new recovered cases recorded yesterday.

Ketchikan received one positive case of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Ketchikan to sixteen (16). Of these 16 cases, two (2) individuals had a recent history of travel, and thirteen (13) individuals were identified as having been in close contact with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19. 15 cases have recovered and are no longer being monitored by Public Health.

247 tests have been conducted for COVID-19 in Ketchikan, with 16 positive results. There were 216 negative results with 15 test results pending. The combined test capacity in Ketchikan is just over 600.

According to the Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC), current State of Alaska test criteria and local test capacity provide Ketchikan with the ability to begin testing any symptomatic person. If you or someone you know needs testing contact your regular provider or our testing hotline at 247-TEST (8378)

In addition, with the supplies Ketchikan has on order and the opening up of some of the supply chains, the hope is to increase the number of available testing kits to close to 3,500 in the next two weeks. Of course, the time table for the supply delivery is subject to change. Once these additional tests are received, the plan is to begin offering drive-through testing.

 

Stay informed:

 

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Health & Social Services
www.

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