Health crisis continues with 1,239 new COVID cases

Alaska DHSS announced today 1,239 new cases of COVID-19 with 19 of those new cases being among non-residents, according to the states COVID-19 dashboard.

Statewide, Alaska DHSS reported that 204 individuals were hospitalized with COVID across the state, 26 individuals were on ventilators and 21 staffed adult ICU beds were available.

In Anchorage, 100 patients are reported as being hospitalized with COVID-19, 15 patients are on ventilators and only 4 staffed adult ICU beds are reported as being available in the Municipality.

In neighboring Mat-Su, 41 patients were reported as being hospitalized with the virus, 5 people were on ventilators and only 1 staffed adult ICU bed was reported as being available.

Last evening, the Anchorage Assembly passed an emergency ordinance requiring masks, making an effort to do the job Anchorage Mayor David Bronson won't do — taking steps to reduce the transmission of the virus within the Municipality and the number of COVID related hospitalizations in an effort to protect public health and safety.

In a post made to Facebook last evening, Mayor Bronson said he would veto the emergency ordinance, which appears at this point to be veto proof.