Posted 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 1

The state health department website reported Friday that there have been 54 COVID-19 cases in Wrangell in the past 14 days, with 28 of those in the past seven days and nine in the past two days.

The case counts include only those test results reported to the state; at-home test results are not included.

Wrangell's case count, while significantly higher than the average over the two years of the pandemic, is down substantially from the post-holidays record-high surge in January and February.

Statewide counts are down substantially from January and February, with 1,349 new infections reported in the past seven days and 2,836 in the past 14 days. At its peak, the case count in Alaska was averaging more than 3,000 a day.

The statewide total for the pandemic is more than 247,000 COVID cases reported to state health authorities. The pandemic total in Wrangell is 517, according to state data on Friday.

Though the borough stopped reporting COVID case counts two weeks ago, due to lack of local data, the state continues to report new cases by community, based on information submitted to the state by health care providers.

The borough continues to encourage residents to pick up free at-home test kits from the Wrangell Fire Department. Call 907-874-3223 to arrange a pick-up at the fire hall.

"If you have symptoms or are a close contact, call Wrangell Medical Center at 907-874-7000 to schedule an appointment to get a free COVID-19 test," the borough reminded residents last week.