Alaska tops COVID-19 hospitalization record

Alaska health officials reported six more COVID-19-related deaths as hospitalizations in the state from the coronavirus hit a new record, according to media reports. 

According to the state’s department of health, as of Tuesday 152 Alaskans are hospitalized with COVID-19, topping a previous high set in December. 

Health officials said the six new COVID-19-related deaths were comprised of four Alaskan residents and two nonresidents. Three of the resident deaths were in the Anchorage area and the fourth from the Dillingham area, according to The Anchorage Daily News. 

State pharmacist Coleman Cutchins said that the current wave of infections is overwhelming medical facilities. 

“What were seeing is a whole lot of people exposed,” Cutchins said. “It’s overwhelming our testing sites, it’s overwhelming our hospitals, it’s overwhelming our doctors’ offices.”

He added that the best way to stop the current spread is to get tested for the virus and vaccinated as well. 

“People should get tested, vaccinated or not, as they see any possible symptoms,” Cutchins said.

The highly contagious delta variant is hitting the unvaccinated hard nationwide.

Four hundred and thirty-one Alaskan residents have died from COVID-19-complications, with 84,597 total cases reported, the state department of health data reportedly said.