FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Twelve new cases of COVID-19 detected in six Alaska communities; third Alaska death

March 29, 2020 ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today announced 12 new cases of COVID-19 in six  Alaska communities – Anchorage (4), Eagle River (1), Fairbanks (4), North Pole (1), Juneau (1) and Ketchikan (1).

DHSS also reported the third death of an Alaskan from COVID-19. The individual was a 73-year-old Anchorage resident. The patient was tested on March 23 and admitted to an Anchorage hospital and passed away on the evening of March 28.

Five of the new cases are older adults (60+); two are adults aged 30-59; four are younger adults aged 19-29 and one is under 18.  Six are female and six are male. Six of the cases are close contacts of previously diagnosed cases; one is travel-related and five are still under investigation.

So far the communities in Alaska that have had laboratory-confirmed cases include Anchorage (including JBER), Eagle River/Chugiak, Girdwood, Fairbanks, North Pole, Homer, Juneau, Ketchikan, Palmer, Seward, Soldotna and Sterling.

Stay informed:

Alaska’s Response

• Find more information about how to keep yourself and your family healthy at the DHSS webpage, coronavirus.alaska.gov
• Visit the governor’s webpage on COVID-19 at gov.alaska.gov/covid19news
• Visit ready.alaska.gov/covid19 on the Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management webpage for Unified Command information, community press releases and other documents.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

This press release covers new cases between March 28 at 3 p.m. and March 29 at 3 p.m. when daily case counts are updated at coronavirus.alaska.gov.