FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2021
Contact: Reba Lean, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 907-443-9674
Nome, Alaska – Five Nome residents tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, July 21, in connection with a cluster of cases identified the day prior.
The addition of the latest cases brings the active COVID-19 case count in the region to 11.
Getting vaccinated is increasingly important as COVID-19 variants of concern spread across the U.S. In Alaska, hospitals are reportedly feeling the strain of COVID-19 illnesses again. There has been a significant increase in numbers of hospitalized patients in the state.
While the community of Nome has reached the targeted herd immunity rate of 70% of the entire population vaccinated against COVID-19, the community is currently seeing the impact of the more infectious strains of the virus. The region as a whole is 62% vaccinated.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, data shows that all COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the U.S. protect people well from severe illness, hospitalization, and death from all current COVID-19 variants in the state. Breakthrough cases in vaccinated individuals can happen but are less common and are very unlikely to lead to significant illness.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, it is still important to get tested and follow the isolation and quarantine guidelines. If you have a runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever, body aches, diarrhea or new loss of taste or smell, please contact your local clinic to get tested.
