COVID-19

As of this past Saturday, the City of Nome is again under a mask mandate. Nome’s City Manager Glenn Steckman issued an emergency order requiring people to wear face masks in all public places outside of their homes.

Close-up of Nome and Bering Strait region on a color map of Alaska

As of yesterday there are 125 active cases of COVID-19 in the Norton Sound region. More than half of those individuals are located in Nome.

According to NSHC, there are 25 active COVID-19 cases in Nome, ten in St. Michael, five in Stebbins and one in Brevig Mission. In Nome, the majority of new cases are travel related.

Roads in village Stebbins in the winter.

COVID-19 case numbers continue to fluctuate but the Bering Strait has seen a general decline throughout December. Due to this decline, the city of Nome lifted its mask mandate on Dec. 8.

The Liitfik Wellness and Treatment Center will eventually live in a new, two-story building across the street from the Norton Sound Regional Hospital (pictured), according to NSHC President Angie Gorn. Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM.

The Norton Sound region’s COVID-19 spike continues. On Nov. 18, NSHC identified six new COVID-19 cases in the Norton Sound Region. Four are in Nome, one is in Shishmaref, and one is in Unalakleet. Unalakleet and Shishmaref’s cases both are due to close contacts. Two cases in Nome are also from close contacts while the other two are from community spread.

Roughly 15% of Savoonga’s population was considered active with COVID-19 by Nov. 9. NSHC announced 115 positive cases in the community of less than 800 people on Monday. The newest 55 cases are considered community spread according to NSHC.

Savoonga has just seen a major spike in COVID-19 cases. Norton Sound Health Corporation reported identifying 70 new cases of COVID-19 in Savoonga over the weekend of Oct. 30. On Nov. 2, NSHC announced a total of 113 active cases in the St. Lawrence Island community.

Norton Sound Health Corporation on Oct. 28 reported a second death due to COVID-19 in the Norton Sound and Bering Strait region. While only the second death in the region overall, it is also the second death this month.

A long table with a gavel resting on it. American flag in background.

After much discussion Monday night, the Nome Common Council did not pass a proposed emergency ordinance that would have prohibited sales of alcohol in town for on-site consumption.

Norton Sound Health Corporation has reported 55 new active cases of COVID-19 in the Bering Strait region over the last two days. 38 of those new cases are in Nome, bringing the total number of cases in the city to 87.