FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2022
Contact: Alexis Erikson, Public Relations Specialist
Phone: (907) 443-8918
81 Active Cases in Region
Nome, Alaska – On Thursday, Jan. 6, Norton Sound Health Corporation identified 24 COVID-19 cases between five regional communities.
In Nome, two of the cases were travel-related, three were close contacts to previously identified cases, and four were community spread. Three of the Nome cases are NSHC employees. In St. Michael, one case was travel-related, five were close contact cases, and one was community spread. In Elim, one case was travel-related and four were close contact cases. Unalakleet had two travel-related cases and Golovin had one travel-related case. Leadership has been notified in each community.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidance for quarantining and isolation. If an individual is diagnosed with COVID-19, patients should isolate for a minimum of five days and wear a face mask for an additional five days.
If someone is identified as a close contact and is not fully vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, they should quarantine for five days. After a negative test on day five, they should continue to wear a mask in public for five additional days. Those who are fully vaccinated and have received a booster dose do not need to quarantine but are encouraged to wear a mask in public places and test on day five.
There are currently 81 active cases in the region: 38 in Nome, 14 in St. Michael, 12 in Elim, seven in Unalakleet, six in Stebbins, and one in each Shishmaref, Golovin, Teller, and Little Diomede.