FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2020
Contact: Reba Lean, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 907-443-9674
A Norton Sound Health Corporation patient’s COVID-19 test results returned positive on Saturday, July 18. The patient is from a regional village. NSHC notified the patient immediately, and they began self-isolating in their home community.
The State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing have been contacted and will begin the process of tracing close contacts. NSHC has been in touch with community leaders in the patient’s home village.
NSHC has a response plan in place that involves additional COVID-19 testing for village residents. For residents of the village who are identified as close contacts of the positive patient, testing will be available from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, July 19. If you were not contacted by either Public Health Nursing or NSHC but believe you are a close contact of the patient, you may call the clinic to arrange a test. NSHC encourages all members of the community to get tested this week from 1-8 p.m. Monday-Friday. Community leaders will help communicate the testing availability locally.
NSHC would like to stress the importance of continuing to practice COVID-19 safety precautions, including social distancing, washing hands frequently and wearing a face covering in public. NSHC has face masks available upon request, either in bulk or in small quantities. Contact your local clinic with requests for masks or Reba Lean at NSHC.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (coughing, fevering, shortness of breath, fatigue, new-onset diarrhea, loss of smell or taste, and other cold symptoms), please contact Primary Care in Nome at 443-3333 or your local clinic before going in to be seen.
