The first 100 out-of-state health care workers have started arriving in Alaska to help at medical facilities overwhelmed with record patient counts due to surging COVID-19 infections.

The state health department has contracted to bring on 470 health care workers, including about 300 nurses, to help the strained workforce. Alaska is using $87 million in federal funds to cover the costs.

The first health care personnel reported to the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage for orientation on Tuesday.

The contractor said the remaining nurses, certified nursing assistants and other health ca...