Local health officials are warning that anyone who visited certain downtown Nome establishments last week may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus. 

Anyone who visited the Board of Trade Saloon, Breakers Bar, or Polar Bar on Wednesday and Thursday, April 21 and 22 may have been exposed to an individual who later tested positive for COVID-19. Norton Sound Health Corporation identified the positive case on Sunday. NSHC believes the individual contracted the virus through community exposure. NSHC reports that the patient is isolating and health officials are identifying close contacts. 

NSHC has the following advice for individuals who were at these establishments at the time of potential contact: 

·       People who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 should get tested, quarantine for seven days, and test again after seven days.

·       People who are vaccinated against COVID-19 should monitor themselves for signs of the virus.

·       Any unvaccinated person who is not sure if they were at the affected establishments should take a COVID-19 test immediately and then test again after seven days.

Testing is available in Nome from 8am-5pm at the NSHC Operations Building which sits at the corner of K Street and the Greg Kruschek Avenue.

Image at top: Businesses on Nome’s Front Street, including the Anchor Tavern, Husky, Golden China, and Maruskiya’s gift shop. Photo: David Dodman; used with permission.