COVID-19

Four more residents of the Norton Sound region have tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus. Three of those patients are located in Stebbins, bringing the local outbreak to 24 total cases.

Stebbins is having one of the Norton Sound region’s worst outbreaks of COVID-19. Community leaders and health experts say the outbreak is highlighting the need for running water.

NSHC’s Medical Director Dr. Mark Peterson reported on Wednesday that no one has been hospitalized as a result of the outbreak in Stebbins.

Patients do not need to be sick or have a reason for wanting a rapid test. The only requirement is that they set up an appointment. That testing is available at the walk-in tent in Nome.

Stebbins, Alaska in October 2004. Photo: Rob Lef, Creative Commons

Norton Sound Health Corporation announced two new cases in that community yesterday, bringing Stebbins’ total to 20 cases.

The City of Nome is struggling to spend all of its CARES Act money before the December 30th deadline. A third round of community benefit funding is now open, which applies to anyone on the Nome power grid.

Three new patients in Stebbins tested positive for the virus yesterday. NSHC says it is working with the community and sending staff as well as supplies to do community-wide testing.

Over the weekend, Norton Sound Health Corporation announced five new cases of COVID-19 were identified in the region. Three of them are connected to the outbreak in Stebbins.

It had been 26 days since a case of COVID-19 was reported in the community of Stebbins. Then last night, Norton Sound Health Corporation announced a cluster of 12 new cases were confirmed in that community.

Two additional Gambell residents have tested positive for COVID-19. The community has now had 31 cases of the virus, while Norton Sound’s total is 95. 76 cases are considered recovered.