On October 9, YKHC identified twelve new COVID-19 cases in the YK Delta.
October 9: Case 1
Late in the day on October 8, YKHC was notified that an individual who resides in a YKHC service area village tested positive for COVID-19 in Anchorage. Contact tracing indicates that the individual has been in Anchorage during their exposure period and will remain in Anchorage during their infectious period.
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. All close contacts have been identified and will be provided instructions for follow-up testing and advised on precautions to take.
October 9: Case 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
On October 9, YKHC confirmed eight Bethel residents tested positive for COVID-19. The individuals are all close contacts of previously known COVID-19 cases.
The individuals are 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 individuals may have been in close contact with. All close contacts have been identified and provided instructions for follow-up testing and precautions to take.
October 9: Case 10
On October 9, YKHC confirmed that a Bethel resident tested positive for COVID-19. The case investigation is on-going.
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 provided instructions for follow-up testing and precautions to take.
October 9: Case 11
On October 9, YKHC confirmed a positive COVID-19 case of an individual in Kwethluk. The individual is not a resident of the YK Delta and, per State reporting protocols, will not be counted in the YK Delta positive case count. Contact tracing indicates this is a travel-related case.
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 will be provided instructions for follow-up testing and precautions to take.
October 9: Case 12
On October 9, YKHC confirmed that an individual who resides in Quinhagak tested positive for COVID-19.
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 they may have been in close contact with. All close contacts will be provided instructions for follow-up testing and precautions to take.
Please note: On October 1, YKHC began receiving written authorization from Tribal leadership to disclose the name of communities in public notifications when positive COVID-19 test results affect villages in our service area. The purpose of this is to continue to protect patient privacy, while bringing as much awareness as possible of current community public health risks, encourage community response and prevention, and promote use of protective measures.
The pandemic and the public health risks it poses is not over. Additional cases emphasize the importance of continuing to practice all known protective measures. Protective measures include: avoid all non-essential travel, avoid dining in at restaurants (instead order out), 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.
YKHC continues to offer free COVID-19 testing, without an appointment, at the Bethel drive-thru testing site every Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. Testing also continues by appointment at the Bethel drive-thru testing site on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, by calling 543-6949.
Get the latest information on COVID-19 from YKHC at www.ykhc.org/covid-19.