FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2020
Contact: Reba Lean, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 907-443-9674
Nome, Alaska – On Wednesday, August 5, Norton Sound Health Corporation identified a patient in a village community who tested positive for COVID-19. The patient is a non-resident of the region who agreed to allow NSHC to share their location of Stebbins. They are now safely isolating.
NSHC has notified the State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing , which will conduct an investigation into the case. NSHC believes the case will be classified as travel-related. The positive test was found as a result of Stebbins’ quarantine and testing protocols.
NSHC notified local leaders in Stebbins, who will determine any needed local response. The patient’s local contacts have been limited, due to the community’s quarantine requirements.
NSHC has found communities’ quarantine and testing requirements to be exceedingly helpful in identifying positive cases and preventing further spread of the virus throughout the region. NSHC is grateful for the leadership communities have demonstrated in putting those requirements in place and encourages them to keep up with the requirements as cases continue to rise statewide.
If patients develop symptoms of the virus, which include coughing, fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, new-onset diarrhea, loss of smell or taste, or other cold-like symptoms, they are encouraged to call their local clinic to arrange a test before going in to be seen.
