There are six new coronavirus cases in Alaska from Thursday, following a spike in positive tests the day before, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services.
The latest cases include five Alaskans: two from Anchorage, one from Juneau, one from Homer and one from Soldotna. The sixth case is a nonresident described as a visitor in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, according to state data.
“The person was detected as a positive case after they had completed their 14-day self-quarantine,” the state health department said in a statement.
Get the latest coverage of the coronavirus in Alaska
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is expected to make an announcement Friday evening about the required two-week quarantine for people traveling into Alaska. It’s set to expire on Tuesday. Last week, Dunleavy lifted coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses.
Related: Alaska’s quarantine order has helped thwart COVID-19 but devastated tourism. Will Dunleavy keep it?
In total, 430 Alaskans have tested positive for the virus so far, and 367 have recovered. There have been 47 hospitalizations and 10 deaths.
The number of nonresidents who have tested positive in Alaska now totals 18. A dozen of them work for the seafood industry and one works in mining. Two are pilots and three are visitors, the state reports.
Nearly 50,000 coronavirus tests have been administered in the state, according to the health department.
The department reports new coronavirus cases by noon daily based on the prior day’s data.
The state reported 13 new coronavirus cases from Wednesday. It was the highest daily increase in more than a month and prompted Alaska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Anne Zink, to caution Alaskans to keep their social circles small.
“#Alaska our risk is going up,” she posted on Twitter on Thursday.
Reach reporter Tegan Hanlon at thanlon@alaskapublic.org or 907-550-8447.
Tegan Hanlon is the digital managing editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at thanlon@alaskapublic.org or 907-550-8447. Read more about Tegan here.
