1 new COVID-19 case announced in Bethel area

One new case of COVID-19 was announced Wednesday, bringing the state’s total number of confirmed cases to 412.

The new case is in the Bethel Census Area. Cases reported by the Department of Health and Social Services by noon each day reflect the cases that get reported to the state the previous day.

Of the total cases, 364 people have recovered so far. There are a total of 17 cases of non-residents in Alaska, mostly among seafood industry workers.

On Monday, the state had reported two new cases of non-resident seafood industry workers, both employed by a processor in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Both employees were screened when they landed in Anchorage and taken directly to their quarantine location. They are now being isolated separate from other quarantining workers.

Also on Monday, the state had announced one new case in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Derotha Ferraro, public information officer for South Peninsula Hospital, wrote in an email that the person is a resident of the southern Kenai Peninsula whose case was discovered when they were tested before a medical procedure at the hospital.

According to data on the state’s coronavirus response website, there were 14 people being hospitalized as of Wednesday for either confirmed cases of the disease or suspected cases. There have been a cumulative total 0f 46 hospitalizations for confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 10 deaths of Alaska residents associated with the illness.

So far, Alaska has tested a total of 46, 363 people, according to data on the state website.

Locally, South Peninsula Hospital had conducted a total of 947 tests so far, with 898 of those tests coming back negative and 43 pending. The hospital has had a total of six tests come back positive overall.

Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.