UPDATE: Two more individuals in Stebbins have tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus. As a result, Norton Sound Health Corporation says the community is now in full lock down.
Stebbins’ total case count rose to 42 yesterday and NSHC says 20 of those COVID-19 cases are currently active. All residents are being told to stay away from individuals of other households for the next three weeks. NSHC is also encouraging the entire community to get tested for the virus.
If you have questions about coronavirus symptoms such as coughing, fever, or loss of taste and smell, you can call your local village clinic or the Nurse Call Line at 443-6411.
ORIGINAL: Stebbins has reached 40 total cases of COVID-19 following four new patients testing positive locally yesterday. It’s been three weeks since the local outbreak began with an original cluster of 12 cases.
According to Norton Sound Health Corporation (NSHC), those latest cases are related to the outbreak of the coronavirus in Stebbins. Local restrictions remain in place such as the hunker down notice, limited access to public buildings, and all residents are being encouraged to wear masks outside of their homes.
NSHC says measures like these, along with travel mandates, continue to be effective tools in preventing further spread of the coronavirus. All travelers are encouraged to know the local and regional requirements or mandates in the communities they may be visiting. NSHC is also asking all residents to get their flu vaccines to prevent influenza from spreading during the pandemic.
Separately, a fifth individual tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, but they are not considered to be a resident of the region. NSHC says the patient was identified as part of the City of Nome’s COVID-19 testing requirements. The newest case is self-isolating in Nome until they are fully recovered.
The State Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing Department have been notified of the five newest cases and will conduct contact tracing. Norton Sound has a total of 148 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 25 are active while 123 are considered recovered.
Image at top: Stebbins, Alaska in October of 2004. Photo: Rob Lef, Creative Commons.
