FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2021
Contact: Reba Lean, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 907-443-9674
Nome, Alaska – Norton Sound Health Corporation identified 18 new COVID-19 cases in the region on Monday, Oct. 25. Of the new cases, nine were found in Nome, four were in Brevig Mission, three were in Elim, one was in Shaktoolik, and one was in Wales.
In Nome, seven of the cases were in close contacts to previously identified cases, while two were community spread cases. All other new cases were close contacts.
In Nome, if individuals were at the Arctic Native Brotherhood Club on Oct. 25, they may have been exposed to a COVID-19-positive individual. NSHC recommends that all attendees monitor their symptoms and wear a face mask while in public for the next 14 days. In the event of new symptoms, schedule a COVID-19 test. Unvaccinated attendees should be particularly cautious and test twice a week through Nov. 4, in addition to masking.
The Alaska Dept. of Health and Social Services continues to report that 100% of recent COVID-19 samples that are sequenced are of the Delta Variant. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Delta Variant is more than twice as contagious as the original virus. Health experts have described the Delta Variant as seeking out the unvaccinated.
NSHC reports that while 66% of the entire region is vaccinated, the majority of COVID-19 cases continues to occur in unvaccinated individuals. According to NSHC data, 39% of COVID-19 cases identified in-region are vaccine breakthrough cases, while 61% of cases are in unvaccinated individuals.
Statewide, DHSS reports that 73% of all cases, 86% of all hospitalizations, and 83% of deaths among Alaska residents over 12 years old were in people who were not fully vaccinated.
Monday’s new cases bring the region’s active COVID-19 case count to 148. There are currently 96 cases in Nome, 29 in Brevig Mission, 15 in Elim, three in Unalakleet, two in Shaktoolik, two in Wales, and one in Shishmaref.
