Two residents in St. Michael have tested positive for COVID-19 and Norton Sound Health Corporation hasn’t said how the individuals contracted the virus.
NSHC said in an announcement today that one of the latest positive cases was identified on Sunday. The origin of the virus is, “yet to be determined.”
The second resident to test positive was announced this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the regional health corporation is developing a response plan with St. Michael’s leadership. Community leaders have closed the local school, gym, and road connecting St. Michael to its neighbor Stebbins for seven days. The local clinic is also expanding its testing for residents.
NSHC says the State Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing will further investigate the newest cases.
As of this afternoon, there were 313 total cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Norton Sound since the pandemic began. Five are currently active with three located in Nome and two in St. Michael. 308 are considered recovered.
The latest update of NSHC’s COVID data dashboard also showed another individual from the region had been hospitalized bringing the total to six. There are still no deaths in the Norton Sound related to the coronavirus.
Image at top: A view of St. Michael in the summer of 2015. Photo: KNOM File.
