Alaska reported 135 new coronavirus infections identified in the past two days and two COVID-19-related deaths on Friday, one of which was recent, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

One of the deaths, involving an Anchorage woman in her 40s, occurred recently. The other involved a man from Metlakatla who was at least 80 years old. His death was identified through a standard review of death certificates.

A total of 372 Alaskans and seven non-residents with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic hit the state last spring. Alaska’s per capita death rate remains among the lowest within the country, although the size of the state, health care system and other factors complicate national comparisons.

The number of cases in Alaska has increased over the past three weeks – including the notable increase reported on Friday – after the state returned to mid-alert on Wednesday. Health officials continue to encourage Alaskans to get vaccinated against the virus, noting that the vaccines have been shown to be very effective in preventing serious illnesses caused by the virus, including the most contagious ones. variants.

The recent increase in cases can probably be attributed in part to the highly contagious delta variant first identified in India in December and Alaska in May, health officials said. Alaska state epidemiologist Dr Joe McLaughlin said this week that he predicted the delta variant would soon become the dominant coronavirus strain in the state.

As of Friday, about 56% of the state’s population aged 12 and older had received at least their first dose of the vaccine, while 51% of all residents 12 and older were considered fully immunized. Out of all the states, Alaska ranked No. 28 in the country for most residents vaccinated per capita.

There were 28 people with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 hospitalized in the state, including four who were on respirators.

Of the 118 newly reported resident cases, there were 71 in Anchorage, 12 in Sitka, eight in Cordova, three in Fairbanks, two in Anchor Point, two in Ketchikan, two in Soldotna and one each in Bethel, Eagle River, Homer , Hooper Bay, Kodiak, Palmer, Petersburg, Tok, Unalaska and Wasilla.

Among the small communities, there were four in the Bethel census area, two in the Kusilvak census area and one each in the northern Borough of the Kenai Peninsula and the Prince of Wales census region. and Hyder.

There were also 17 new cases reported among non-residents: six in Anchorage, three in Wasilla, two in Bethel and one each in Cordoba, Petersburg, Sitka and Soldotna, as well as two in unidentified areas of the state. .

Of all coronavirus tests done in the state over the past week, 2.43% came back positive.

Note: The health service now updates its coronavirus dashboard on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays excluding holidays.