As of Feb. 16, Norton Sound Health Corporation reported exactly 200 active cases of COVID-19 in the Norton Sound and Bering Strait region. Sixty-four of those cases were identified on Feb. 16, nearly a third of which were in Savoonga.
While new case counts aren’t as high as they were last week, when NSHC was identifying over 100 new cases per day, NSHC has still identified at least 50 new cases each day from Feb. 14–16.
NSHC continues to advise that all residents of the region get vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive a booster dose once the appropriate amount of time has passed since the initial dose. According to NSHC, anyone who received the Pfizer vaccine at least five months ago, or the Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, should get a booster dose as soon as possible. Anyone who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster after two months, and NSHC recommends that the booster be either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
Of the 200 active cases NSHC reported on Feb. 16, 42 were in Nome, 40 in Savoonga, 37 in Gambell, 19 in Stebbins, 13 in Koyuk, 11 in Shishmaref, 10 in Unalakleet, seven in Teller, six in Shaktoolik, six in White Mountain, five in Diomede, two in Brevig Mission, one in Elim and one was in Golovin.
Image at top: The COVID-19 Virus. Photo credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
