This past week’s seven-day case total for the region is the 18th highest since the beginning of the pandemic. It's the ninth highest weekly case total in 2021, coming in just behind last week’s case totals.
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation reported 243 new COVID-19 Cases in the region over the past week, from Nov. 8 to Nov. 14. YKHC also reported two new hospitalizations in-region, and the deaths of two residents due to the virus during this one week period.
Nine fewer cases were reported this week than last week. Last week there were 254 new cases, five hospitalizations in-region, and three deaths. However, the test positivity rate increased by 2%, suggesting that more COVID-19 cases are going undocumented because COVID-19-positive individuals are not getting tested. During the YKHC COVID-19 call-in show on Nov. 17, YKHC Director of Public Health Brian Lefferts explained why that is.
“We have a lot of undiagnosed cases, because we know that when the positivity rates are above 5%, that we're just not testing enough people. And so we track that metric pretty closely to make sure that we're testing enough.”
Currently, the Y-K Delta’s COVID-19 case rate is five times higher than the national case rate and two times higher than the state’s. According to the New York Times, one in every three Y-K Delta residents has contracted COVID-19 over the past 18 months.
Last week, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced 2,753 new COVID-19 cases statewide. During that time, the Y-K Delta made up 9% of the state’s new cases.
Over the past week, in alphabetical order by community, YKHC announced one case in Akiachak, one in Akiak, 16 in Alakanuk, 24 in Atmautluak, 37 in Bethel, eight in Chefornak, one in Chevak, six in Crooked Creek, 13 in Eek, 6 in Holy Cross, 30 in Kasigluk, one in Kipnuk, one in Kwethluk, seven in Kwigillingok, three in Marshall, one in Mountain Village, four in Napaskiak, one in Newtok, one in Nunam Iqua, 21 in Nunapitchuk, seven in Pilot Station, two in Quinhagak, two in Scammon Bay, 29 in Toksook Bay, one in Tuluksak, and six in unnamed Y-K Delta Villages.
Across the Y-K Delta, 14,844 individuals, or 67% of the eligible population, is fully vaccinated against the virus, according to state data.
How does the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta compare to state and national trends?
Per capita, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is reporting more COVID-19 cases on average than the state and nation. From Nov. 8 to Nov. 14, YKHC announced an average of 35 new COVID-19 cases each day, one fewer case per day than the week before. Per 100,000 people in the region, about 837.9 developed COVID-19 in the last 7 days. In the same time period, the state announced 386.6 new cases per 100,000 people across Alaska, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced 165.2 cases per 100,000 people across the U.S.
