1 in 500 Alaskans died from COVID-19 during pandemic, state reports

Monday, December 22, 2025 -A new report from the Alaska Department of Health shows that approximately one in every 500 Alaskans died from COVID‑19 between March 2020 and May 2023, highlighting the pandemic’s profound toll on the state’s population. 

During this period, roughly 1,564 deaths were attributed to the virus, reflecting the cumulative impact over the course of the health emergency. The analysis reviewed epidemiological data, including death records, hospitalizations, infections, vaccination rates, and public health responses to provide a comprehensive picture of how the coronavirus affected Alaska.

The report underscores that Alaska experienced distinct phases of the pandemic, with widespread community transmission and notable surges in cases and deaths despite early prevention efforts and high testing rates. 

The delta variant, in particular, caused a significant spike in fatalities over a six‑month period, and demographic data showed that certain groups, including American Indian/Alaska Native and Asian/Pacific Islander communities, faced disproportionate burdens in hospitalizations and mortality.

Vaccination uptake emerged as a critical factor in the state’s pandemic experience, with a large share of those who died having been eligible for vaccines but not immunized. 

The report aims to inform future public health strategies by documenting the evolving dynamics of the virus, the effectiveness of responses, and the ongoing challenges for Alaska’s health systems. By framing the pandemic as a series of “eras,” it highlights how prevention, virus variants, and public behavior shaped outcomes over time.