State epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin said an omicron wave in Germany is showing the importance of getting boosted.
"Dr. Joe McLaughlin"
No cases of monkeypox in Alaska yet, but health officials are readying for the disease’s arrival
Alaska state health officials are educating public health nurses and other health care providers in how to identify, test and treat monkeypox cases.
In some Southeast Alaska communities, COVID cases are rising as cruise season starts
Some of the highest case rates and sharpest increases were in communities — like Skagway, Petersburg, and Sitka — that will see a lot of visits from cruise ships.
The BA.2 strain now makes up nearly half of Alaska COVID cases
Statewide, 59.6% of Alaskans are fully vaccinated. Local rates range from 79.6% in the Juneau region to 42% in the Matanuska-Susitna region.
As COVID cases skyrocket, Alaska health officials watch hospitalizations and staffing
In the last week, the omicron variant has pushed Alaska’s daily case counts higher than the fall delta variant surge and sidelined health care workers at an alarming rate.
What Alaska’s move to more home COVID tests and fewer lab tests means for managing the pandemic
Home test kit results aren’t necessarily captured in state pandemic data, which impacts other public health systems officials have been using to manage the pandemic.
Alaska’s top epidemiologist encourages vaccines, boosters ahead of holidays as omicron variant looms
Alaska’s vulnerability to a surge of omicron cases is about average compared with other states, according to Alaska’s top epidemiologist, Dr. Joe McLaughlin.
Alaska reports 5 COVID deaths and near-record hospitalizations as high plateau of cases continues
While case counts have seesawed some days, they’ve generally plateaued. Alaska continues to lead the country in its rate of COVID-19 cases.
Gov. Dunleavy adds bills aimed at easing COVID-19 surge to special session
One bill would expand the use of telehealth care, while another would allow Alaska to join a compact with other states to make it easier for nurses to be licensed in Alaska. Hospital leaders told lawmakers that it’s most important that the state act quickly, no matter the method.
Alaska returns to high alert level as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations climb
Alaska tallied 882 new infections last week — up 140% from the week before. The vast majority of new cases involve people who aren’t vaccinated.