Norton Sound Health Corporation has confirmed a sixth case of COVID-19 in the Bering Strait region. The patient who tested positive is based in Nome and is believed to have contracted the disease through travel-related transmission.
According to a press release from NSHC Tuesday night, the newest case in Nome was found through COVID-19 testing in compliance with City of Nome requirements. Based on the city’s current emergency order, passengers traveling into town from outside the Nome census area are subject to a 14-day quarantine upon their arrival. However, they can instead choose to be tested for COVID-19 at the local airport, self-quarantine for seven days, and then take a second test to confirm that they don’t have the disease.
If an individual does test positive for COVID-19 then they still must quarantine for 14 days as mandated by the state of Alaska and the City of Nome.
The latest patient with COVID-19 in the Bering Strait region is currently self-isolating and the state is conducting contact tracing with them. This individual makes three active cases currently in the region, with two of them being based in Nome. This was the second case reported by NSHC within the last week.
Norton Sound Health Corporation continues to offer free testing for COVID-19 in Nome at their walk-in tent, Monday through Friday. The health corporation is also conducting tests at the Nome airport for all passengers arriving on the flight from Anchorage.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, like coughing, fevering, shortness of breath, fatigue, new-onset diarrhea, loss of smell or taste, and other cold symptoms; contact NSHC’s Primary Care in Nome at 443-3333. Village clinics throughout the region can also assist you if you live in a Bering Strait regional community.
Image at top: The COVID-19 testing drive-thru tent outside the Norton Sound Regional Hospital. Photo from Reba Lean, NSHC (2020).
