FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2020
Contact: Reba Lean, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 907-443-9674
Three patients tested positive for COVID-19 in the Norton Sound/Bering Strait region on Thursday, July 9. The State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing have been informed of the cases and will follow up with investigations into each one.
Two of the cases are close contacts to one another and, while still under investigation by the Section of Epidemiology, are believed to be travel-related. NSHC contacted both of these patients, one of whom is a non-resident, and they began self-isolating immediately.
The other patient agreed to allow NSHC to share their home community of Teller. This patient was informed of their positive results and is self-isolating as well. On Thursday evening, NSHC contacted Teller community leaders, so they could form a local response plan. NSHC will be providing additional COVID-19 testing in the community, and village leadership will inform residents about that testing availability. NSHC strongly encourages at least one or two members of each household in Teller to get tested.
Public Health Nursing will contact anyone who is deemed to be a close contact of any of the three cases and will provide guidance on steps they should take to protect others, moving forward.
Anyone in the region can be tested for COVID-19 at any time. If you live in Nome, you may visit the walk-in testing tent outside of the hospital from 8-11 a.m. and 12:30-5 p.m. Monday-Friday or 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. In any of the villages, you may call your local clinic to arrange testing.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (coughing, fevering, shortness of breath, fatigue, new-onset diarrhea, loss of smell or taste, and other cold symptoms), please contact Primary Care in Nome at 443-3333 or your local clinic before going in to be seen.
