On July 31, YKHC was notified that an individual currently in a YKHC service area village tested positive for COVID-19 in Anchorage. The individual was not notified about the positive test result until after travel occurred. To protect patient privacy, YKHC is not releasing the name of the service area village. The individual is not a resident of the YK Delta, and therefore per State reporting protocols, will not be counted in the YK Delta positive case count.
The individual is currently self-isolating and YKHC is working with the State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology to conduct contact tracing, follow-up testing, and ensure precautions are taken to protect people the individual may have been in close contact with. All close contacts have been identified and will be provided instructions for follow-up testing and advised on precautions to take.
Contact tracing indicates there is high likelihood this is a travel-related case and risk of exposure within the community as a result of this case is low. YKHC continues to offer COVID-19 testing in our village and Sub-Regional clinics. The public is encouraged to call and speak with their clinic to schedule testing.
The pandemic and the public health risks it poses is not over. These additional cases emphasize the importance of continuing to practice all known protective measures. Protective measures include: avoid all non-essential travel, opt for free COVID-19 testing upon arrival at the Bethel, St. Mary’s, and Aniak airports when arriving from out-of-region, practice regular handwashing, remain physically distant (more than six feet) from anyone who does not reside in your same household, wear a mask when in public, and frequently disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and diminished sense of taste or smell. If you have these symptoms, do not go to your village clinic or to the emergency room in Bethel. Instead, call your village clinic or in Bethel call 543-6949 so a health care provider can assist you.
Get the latest information on COVID-19 from YKHC at www.ykhc.org/covid-19.