As of yesterday, there are over 40 active cases of COVID-19 in the Norton Sound region. Following holiday travel, Norton Sound Health Corporation identified a spike of 30 new cases on Monday.

There are 25 active COVID-19 cases in Nome, ten in St. Michael, five in Stebbins and one in Brevig Mission, according to NSHC. For St. Michael, the majority of the new cases are close contacts of previously confirmed positive cases. While in Nome, the majority of new cases are travel related. In Stebbins, all patients were close contacts of previously identified cases. The case in Brevig was travel-related.

NSHC says three of its employees tested positive in this latest spike of cases.

The regional health corporation recommends that close contacts who are not fully vaccinated nor had their booster shots, should quarantine five days. After a negative test result on day five, the individual should continue to wear a mask in public for five additional days. This is based on the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus quarantine and isolation guidelines.

For those who are fully vaccinated and have received a booster, NSHC says they do not need to quarantine but are encouraged to wear a mask in public places and test the fifth day after exposure. 

NSHC encourages anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 to isolate for a minimum of five days following their positive-test result and wear a mask for an additional five days.

Image at top: The COVID-19 Virus. Photo credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021).