For the first time this year, COVID-19 cases have significantly decreased over a one-week period. from Feb. 6 to Feb. 13, the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) announced 596 new cases over the past week, a 27% decrease from the week before. This drop comes after a month of record breaking cases.
However, the region’s case rate continues to outpace state and national infection rates. The Y-K Delta’s infection rate is over two times higher than the state’s, and six times higher than the nation’s. For YKHC’s Dr. Ellen Hodges, these rates show how much further the region has to go.
“We're not quite out of the woods yet,” Hodges said on Feb. 16, “But we're really hoping that in the next couple of weeks, our rate of decrease will continue. But right now, we still are keeping everyone busy with the cases that we have.”
Rates of COVID-19 infection are falling across Alaska, but hospitalizations remain high statewide. Five COVID-19-positive individuals are currently hospitalized at YKHC, and another COVID-19 patient was medevaced out this weekend. Hodges said that a substantial number of hospitalizations due to the omicron variant have been children, especially those under age five who aren’t eligible for vaccination.
The decline comes as the City of Bethel’s mask mandate is set to expire on Friday, Feb. 18. Much of the debate over removing masks has centered around personal choice, but the personal choice to remove masks for some could take away the choice of others, particularly those who are immunocompromised.
“If we choose not to wear masks, you could be taking away someone else's choice to be able to go do things like go to school, or go to the post office, or go to the store,” Lefferts explained. “So choosing to wear masks as a community is a way that we can all come together in solidarity.
For YKHC, their top priority is keeping students in the classroom. They point to research that has shown that being in the classroom makes it easier for children to learn, even if they are masked. “So whatever we can do to try to keep our kids in school: frequent testing, wearing masks, and everyone getting vaccinated. That should really be the goal of all of our communities: to promote the health and well being of our kids,” said Hodges.
YKHC understands that masks can be uncomfortable, especially when worn for long periods of time, but when it comes to actual health detriments caused by masking, Lefferts said that the evidence just isn’t there.
"Concerns about reduced oxygen saturation and carbon dioxide retention when wearing a mask just really haven't been supported by data," said Lefferts.
Last week, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced 5,417 new COVID-19 cases across Alaska. During that time, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta made up 11% of the state’s new cases.
Over the past week, in alphabetical order by community, YKHC announced 29 cases in Akiachak, four in Akiak, 12 in Alakanuk, four in Aniak, three in Atmautluak, 90 in Bethel, 18 in Chefornak, 57 in Chevak, 40 in Eek, five in Emmonak, 18 in Grayling, six in Holy Cross, 17 in Hooper Bay, one in Kasigluk, three in Kipnuk, 10 in Kongiganak, 15 in Kotlik, 23 in Kwethluk, 13 in Kwigillingok, 17 in Mountain Village, 11 in Napakiak, eight in Napaskiak, seven in Newtok, 17 in Nunam Iqua, 20 in Nunapitchuk, eight in Pilot Station, 75 in Quinhagak, five in Russian Mission, two in Scammon Bay, 19 in St. Mary’s, five in Toksook Bay, eight in Tuluksak, 16 in Tuntutuliak, nine in Tununak, and one in an unnamed Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta village.
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta case rate is significantly higher than both that of the state and the nation. Per 100,000 people over seven days, 2,055 individuals developed COVID-19 in-region. That’s compared to the national case rate of 341 cases per 100,000 and the state case rate of 809 cases per 100,000 over the same period of time.
YKHC reports that 17,759 individuals, or 66.2% of the eligible population, is completely vaccinated against COVID-19, which a 0.3% increase from last week. DHSS reports that 62.1% of all eligible Alaskans have completed a vaccine series. Nationwide, 68.6% of the population that is five or older is fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Local health officials continue to urge wearing masks and getting vaccinated and boosted against the virus to protect your health, and to prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed by new cases. Anyone with questions about the virus is encouraged to visit the YKHC COVID-19 Dashboard or call the COVID-19 hotline at 543-6949.
