FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2021
Contact: Alexis Erikson, Public Relations Specialist
Phone: (907) 443-8918
Active COVID-19 Cases Decline Over Weekend
Nome, Alaska – Between Friday, Nov. 12 and Sunday, Nov. 14, Norton Sound Health Corporation identified 38 COVID-19 cases between five regional communities. Of those cases, there were 30 in Nome, four in Brevig Mission, two in Savoonga, one in Gambell, and one in Wales.
In Nome, 11 of the cases were close contacts to previously identified cases, four were community spread cases, and one was travel-related. Two of Nome’s cases were NSHC employees, who had no contact with patients during their infectious periods. In Brevig Mission, three of the cases were close contacts, and one was community spread. In Savoonga, both cases were community spread. Gambell’s case was a close contact, and Wales’ case was travel-related.
NSHC would like to clarify what to do if you are a close contact. The CDC defines a close contact as “anyone who was within six feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.”
If you were in contact with a person within 2 days of onset of their symptoms, you are considered to be a close contact. If the person is asymptomatic and you had contact within 2 days of their positive test, you are considered a close contact.
If you fit either of the criteria above, please follow these guidelines:
• If you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine. However, please test on day 0, 3, 7, 10, and 14.
• If you are not fully vaccinated, please quarantine for seven days and test on day 0, 3, 7, 10, and 14.
Additionally, school students are not considered close contacts to a positive student, as long as both the positive student and the other students are masked.
If you are not sure if you are a close contact, please call Public Relations at 907-443-9674 or the Quarantine Resource Team at 907-434-0654 or email
There are currently 155 active cases in the region: 88 are in Nome, 37 are in Savoonga, 10 are in Unalakleet, seven are in Brevig, five are in Gambell, three are in Shishmaref, two are in White Mountain, one is in Elim, one is in St. Michael, and one is in Wales. Village leadership in all communities have been notified.