FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 30, 2020
Contact: Sarah Richards, Public Relations Specialist
Phone: (907) 443-4591
Nome, Alaska – On December 29, Norton Sound Health Corporation identified a positive COVID-19 case in a resident of St. Michael.
The State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing have been notified and will conduct further investigation. The case is considered to be travel-related. There are currently 10 active cases in the region, including eight in Nome, one in Brevig Mission, and one in St. Michael.
NSHC continues to keep the public informed through a Weekly Data Dashboard. The graphic condenses information into pie charts to show details of the region’s total cases such as gender, age, and positive test timeline. It also reports total hospitalizations, deaths, and active cases. The total number of COVID-19 vaccinations given in the region can be found on the graphic. The dashboard is updated every Monday by noon, and can be accessed at this web address: https://my.visme.co/view/q6xw84jw-data-dashboard
NSHC is ahead of schedule and has opened COVID-19 vaccinations to Group 1 essential workers, including the following:
- Daycare and K-12 teachers and support staff
- Grocery store workers
- Cab/Taxi drivers
- Airline customer facing workers including Pilots, TSA, Gate/Desk Agents
- U.S. Postal Service workers
- Corrections workers, including adult and juvenile corrections and Seaside staff
- Staff of homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and similar congregate living facilities
- Office of Child Services and Adult Services Staff
- Fisheries/Seafood industry workers
Vaccinations have been open to frontline healthcare workers, first responders, residents of NSHC’s long-term care center and to residents ages 65 and older. To make an appointment to receive a vaccination in Nome, please visit www.picktime.com/NSHC and choose your appropriate category. Please note that appointments are located at the Nome Pharmacy, not to be confused with the COVID-19 testing site. Group 2 essential workers and others who would like to get a vaccine should await further information before booking an appointment to avoid cancellation due to ineligibility.
If you have questions about COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, or have any concerns, you can call into NSHC’s Daily Tribal Leader Call every Monday-Thursday at 11 a.m. The call-in line is 1-800-315-6338; access code: 03286#. There will not be a call on December 31 to allow NSHC staff to enjoy the holiday; calls will resume on January 4.
If you develop a cough, fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, congestion, fatigue, headache, or loss of taste or smell, please immediately quarantine and make an appointment at the Cough and Cold Clinic by calling the main appointment desk at (907) 443-3333. You can also call the direct line to the Cough and Cold Clinic at (907) 443-9666 or (907) 443-4200.
