FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2020
Contact: Reba Lean, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 907-443-9674
Nome, Alaska – Norton Sound Health Corporation identified the 18th positive case of COVID-19 in the region as a resident of a village on Sunday, July 12. The patient has been contacted and is safely isolating. The State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing are in contact with the individual and have begun the process of tracing close contacts.
NSHC has been in touch with community leaders in the patient’s home village. NSHC has a response team in place in the community that will provide additional testing availability, which community leaders will inform residents about.
NSHC would like to express its gratitude to regional residents who continue to be voluntarily tested for COVID-19. More than 35% of the region has tested, which has led to the large majority of regional cases found. Identifying positive cases helps stop the spread of the virus in its tracks, in combination with isolating and quarantining of close contacts.
Anyone in the region can be tested for COVID-19 at any time. If you live in Nome, you may visit the walk-in testing tent outside of the hospital from 8-11 a.m. and 12:30-5 p.m. Monday-Friday or 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. In any of the villages, you may call your local clinic to arrange testing.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (coughing, fevering, shortness of breath, fatigue, new-onset diarrhea, loss of smell or taste, and other cold symptoms), please contact Primary Care in Nome at 443-3333 or your local clinic before going in to be seen.