FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2020
Contact: Alexis Erikson, Public Relations Specialist
Phone: (907) 443-8918
On November 18, Norton Sound Health Corporation identified 3 new positive cases of COVID-19.
NSHC has considered the first patient’s virus acquisition as community spread. The patients agreed to allow NSHC to share their home community of Nome, where they are safely isolating.
The other two positive cases are NSHC employees. One employee tested positive in accordance with the City of Nome travel mandate and was already in quarantine when the results were received. This employee was not at work at all during their infectious period. The second employee tested and received results on 11/18/20 and is isolating. This case is also considered to be community spread.
The State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing have been notified of the cases and will conduct further investigation. These three new cases bring the Nome active case count to 19, with evidence of community spread at this time.
If you would like to get tested for COVID-19 in Nome, you can walk-in to the Operations Building (south side) by the garage doors. Their COVID-19 testing hours will be Monday through Friday from 8 – 12 P.M. and 2 – 5 P.M. On the weekend, testing hours are on Sunday from 2 – 5 P.M.