Despite vaccination rates that are higher than the state average, health officials in Anchorage are warning of the potential for a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases.
Last Monday, Anchorage reported 112 coronavirus cases — its highest daily case count since January.
Health officials say that spring break-related travel in mid-March contributed to an uptick in cases over the past ten days. Organized sporting events have also contributed to the higher case counts, said Anchorage epidemiologist Janet Johnston.
In early March, the city ended capacity limits for businesses and eased restrictions on sporting events.
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Anchorage Health Department Director Heather Harris said the average 14-day case count in the city is up almost 75% since last month.
“It’s really concerning that — given the amount of vaccine coverage that we have in the community and potential residual immunity from individuals being positive — that we’re still seeing this really strong increase of case counts overall,” she said.
Harris said the city’s vaccination effort is continuing with a third of city residents vaccinated. The city has turned its focus to mobile and pop-up vaccine clinics for underserved areas and communities. But the effort isn’t going as fast as officials hoped.
“We are trying to, in the spring time, really push vaccine so that when we come into the summer, we’re in a better space… for our tourists and for our industry to feel really confident,” she said.
She said that getting life back to normal this summer in Anchorage will depend on residents deciding to get vaccinated and take other COVID-19 precautions.
Lex Treinen is covering the state Legislature for Alaska Public Media. Reach him at ltreinen@gmail.com.
