FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2020
Contact: Alexis Erikson, Public Relations Specialist
Phone: (907) 443-8918
Late in the evening of November 12, Norton Sound Health Corporation identified three positive COVID-19 cases. The patients agreed to allow NSHC to share their home community of Nome, where they are safely isolating.
All patients tested positive in accordance with the City of Nome’s testing and quarantine mandate related to travel. Norton Sound Health Corporation has notified the State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing, which will conduct further investigation.
NSHC continues to recommend that regional communities maintain travel and quarantine restrictions as an effective method of preventing spread of the virus. While a full 14-day quarantine is the safest way to prevent COVID-19 spread from incoming travelers, a reduced quarantine time of seven days, coupled with a test upon arrival and a second test on the traveler’s seventh day of quarantine, would most likely stop any travel-related spread. One negative test upon a traveler’s arrival is not a sufficient method of preventing spread of the virus.
If residents have questions regarding symptoms, which can include coughing, shortness of breath, fevering, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, or other cold-like symptoms, they should contact their local clinic or the Nurse Call Line at (907) 443-6411 or 844-586-8773 if outside of regular clinic hours. Other general questions about COVID-19 can be directed to the State of Alaska’s 211 resource number.
