FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2022
Contact: Alexis Erikson, Public Relations Specialist
Phone: (907) 443-8918
115 COVID-19 Cases Identified on Tuesday
Nome, Alaska – On Tuesday, Feb. 8, Norton Sound Health Corporation identified 115 new COVID-19 cases in the region. Of the new cases, there were 38 in Gambell, 21 in Nome, 12 in Shaktoolik, 11 in Savoonga, eight in Teller, seven in Unalakleet, five in Shishmaref, four in Elim, four in Koyuk, two in Golovin, and one in each Brevig, Stebbins, and Wales. Leadership in each community has been notified.
Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases over the past month, there may be a delay in getting supplies and resources to patients who have tested positive for the virus or have been instructed to quarantine. The Quarantine Team will continue to call each patient and supply necessary resources as quickly as possible.
If you are in isolation and need assistance, but have not yet been contacted, please call 907-443-4555 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. After hours or on weekends, you can call 907-434-0654. This number also accepts text messages.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend regular testing for people who are not experiencing symptoms, unless it is required by their school, workplace, or health care provider. Those who should get tested are people experiencing symptoms, people who have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, and people who are not up to date on their vaccines and are at higher risk of illness.
If you are sick or test positive for COVID-19, please isolate for five days (starting from the first day of symptoms, or the day of the positive test if without symptoms), followed by five days of wearing a face mask around other people. End isolation if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medicine) and your symptoms are improving.
People who tested positive do not need to test again after their isolation to be considered recovered. People who have tested positive should not retest again for 90 days unless specifically instructed to do so by their providers.
There are currently 312 active cases in the region: 89 in Nome, 65 in Gambell, 35 in Savoonga, 29 in Shaktoolik, 26 in Unalakleet, 19 in Shishmaref, 15 in Teller, 12 in Elim, eight in Koyuk, five in Stebbins, three in Golovin, two in Brevig, two in St. Michael, one in Wales, and one in White Mountain.
