On Friday, June 12, YKHC was notified by the State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology that an individual who resides in a YKHC service area village tested positive for COVID-19 while in Anchorage. The individual was tested at ANMC in accordance with health mandate 15. To protect patient privacy, YKHC is not releasing the name of the community the individual is from.
The individual is currently self-isolating in Anchorage 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.
YKHC is sending a village rapid response team to the affected village tomorrow, June 13. The team will follow up with close contacts, provide widespread testing and offer medical support.
Although the State of Alaska has eased restrictions on travel and moved to reopen Alaska’s economy, the pandemic and the public health risks it poses is not over. YKHC urges the public to continue practicing all known protective measures, which helps to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus. Protective measures include: avoid all non-essential travel, 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.