While Alaska reported 2,645 new COVID cases last week, that represents a 35% decline over the previous week. The virus now appears to be in steady retreat, according to the latest analysis from Alaska’s Dept. of Health & Social Services.

The declining numbers are occurring despite the fact that less than 1% of Alaskans had received the COVID vaccine as of Dec. 21.

“New cases decreased compared to last week, and case rates decreased across all regions of Alaska,” the state reported Dec. 21. Still, all areas of the state, except the Southern Southeast region, continue to have high community transmission, but the state estimates that new daily cases should drop by half every 121 days based on current modeling.

The number of new cases is also expected to drop again this week, which will be the first expected decline in more than two months.

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