FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2020
Contact: Reba Lean, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 907-443-9674
Nome, Alaska – A Norton Sound Health Corporation employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The patient agreed to share their home community of Nome, where they are now safely isolating.
NSHC notified the State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing, which will conduct an investigation into the case, including contact tracing. People who are identified as close contacts will be instructed to quarantine for 14 days since their last contact with the patient. This patient is considered a part of a cluster of cases in the region in connection with travel-related cases identified last week.
The patient’s virus was found through NSHC’s routine employee testing policy. The cause of transmission will be determined by the Section of Epidemiology.
Regular testing is a great way to track down and identify the virus in the region. NSHC recommends at least one person per household get tested each month. People who come into contact with many members of the public through their jobs or daily lives should be tested every two weeks. NSHC also recommends students get tested once a month.
Testing is not the safest way to prevent spread of the virus, though. Unless people are practicing safety precautions, the virus could slip through the cracks. It is a good idea to limit your social circle to your immediate household members and possibly one or two other families or groups. When in public, wear a face mask properly to limit the chance of accidentally passing on the virus to others. Frequent handwashing is and essential step in the safety precautions as well.
Above all, be more cautious than usual. If you feel sick, stay home. Think twice before exposing yourself to others. The pandemic is not over, and we all need to continue working together to protect the region.
