FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 24, 2020
Contact: Reba Lean, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 907-443-9674
Nome, Alaska – Four Nome residents tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, December 23.
Among the four, Norton Sound Health Corporation identified two cases that were close contacts of a previously identified case, one community-acquired case, and one travel-related case.
The individual with a community-acquired case is an employee of NSHC. NSHC determined there was no patient exposure during their infectious period. The individual with a travel-related case is also a NSHC employee. They were tested in accordance with the City of Nome’s travel mandate and were not at work at all during their infectious period.
All patients have been informed and are safely isolating. The State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing have been notified and will conduct further investigation.
Nome now has 13 active cases of COVID-19, while the region’s villages have none.
NSHC COVID-19 vaccinations now total 822. NSHC has opened vaccinations to frontline healthcare workers, residents of its long-term care center, first responders, elders 65 years and older and will be opening up appointments early next week for the Group 1 phase of essential workers, including the following:
- Daycare and K-12 teachers and support staff
- Grocery store workers
- Cab/Taxi drivers
- Airline customer facing workers including Pilots, TSA, Gate/Desk Agents
- U.S. Postal Service workers
- Corrections workers, including adult and juvenile corrections and Seaside staff
- Staff of homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and similar congregate living facilities
- Office of Child Services and Adult Services Staff
- Fisheries/Seafood industry workers
Group 1 essential workers can schedule an appointment at www.picktime.com/NSHC. NSHC asks that you wait until you are out of travel or close contact quarantine before scheduling an appointment. You will not be able to get your vaccination until you have been cleared by an NSHC staff member. Please be prepared to wait an additional 15-30 minutes after your appointment as a NSHC staff member monitors for any signs of vaccine reaction.
Stay up to date with the latest by visiting www.nortonsoundhealth.org/category/covid-19.
