FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2020
Contact: Reba Lean, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 907-443-9674
Nome, Alaska – Norton Sound Health Corporation COVID-19 testing revealed another positive result late Thursday, June 25. This patient is an employee at NSHC’s Quyanna Care Center. The patient has not traveled out of the region for the past three months and is not experiencing any symptoms.
The patient tested positive through NSHC’s routine testing policy, in which all employees working at QCC are tested weekly. Upon receiving the test results, the patient began isolating immediately, and NSHC notified the State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Nursing. An investigation of the patient’s close contacts is underway.
NSHC is conducting follow-up testing for all QCC staff members and residents, which will be completed Friday, June 26.
QCC follows strict guidelines recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the State of Alaska. In addition to wearing personal protective gear and distancing themselves from residents and other staff, employees working in QCC are not permitted to leave the unit to visit other areas of the hospital as part of NSHC’s safety measures.
“Given the congregate nature of our nursing home and the population served, NSHC implemented a strong infection prevention and control program at a very early stage of the pandemic to protect both our residents and health care personnel,” said Angie Gorn, NSHC President/CEO. “We are blessed to have access to asymptomatic testing, which has led to quick identification of cases and immediate isolation to stave off spread.”
NSHC will continue to stay vigilant with mandatory routine testing of its health care workers.
