FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2021
Contact: Alexis Erikson, Public Relations Specialist
Phone: (907) 443-8918
179 Active COVID-19 Cases in Region
Nome, Alaska –Norton Sound Health Corporation identified 15 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, August 17, bringing the total number of active cases in the region to 179.
Of the new cases, one is in Gambell, one is in Shishmaref, two are in Nome, and 11 are in Stebbins. All patients have been notified and are safely isolating.
Of regionwide active cases, seven are in Nome, two are in Savoonga, two are in Unalakleet, one is in White Mountain, one is in Gambell, 128 are in Stebbins, 11 are in St. Michael, and 27 are in communities that will remain unidentified. Village leadership in all communities with active cases has been contacted. The communities of Stebbins and St. Michael will remain in a lockdown until there are no new cases identified in the villages for 14 days.
As school districts prepare for the start of school, superintendents of Nome Public Schools and Bering Strait School District have laid out COVID-19 mitigation plans. Both school districts are starting off the school year with universal masking requirements in place. Within the Bering Strait School District, the masking requirement applies to grades 1-12 only. Both school districts are collecting information about the numbers of vaccinated staff members and students, so they can make better informed decisions about when to release the universal masking requirements. NSHC will continue to keep school districts informed about regional cases, so local schools can make appropriate decisions regarding any closures.
NSHC strongly encourages everyone who is eligible in the region to contact their local clinic to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
