On September 23, YKHC identified four new COVID-19 cases in the YK Delta.
September 23: Case 1
Late in the day on September 22, YKHC confirmed an individual who resides in a YKHC service area village tested positive for COVID-19 while in Bethel. To protect patient privacy, YKHC is not releasing the name of the service area village the individual is from.
The individual is currently self-isolating in Bethel 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 advised on precautions to take.
September 23: Case 2
On September 23, YKHC was notified that an individual who resides in a YKHC service area village tested positive for COVID-19 at the Bethel airport and subsequently returned to their service area village. 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 from.
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.
September 23: Case 3
On September 23, 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 out of the region 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.
September 23: Case 4
On September 23, YKHC was notified that an individual from Bethel tested positive for COVID-19 in Anchorage. Contact tracing indicates that the individual has been out of the region 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.
Update: Recall for Case 1 from 09/18/2020
On September 18, YKHC announced a non-resident of the YK Delta tested positive for COVID-19 in Bethel. Further investigation of the case discovered the individual previously tested positive for the virus, recovered and is no longer considered infectious or a public health risk to others. This recovered case does not have any effect on our region, and therefore will be subtracted from our case count. The correction will also be made to YKHCs COVID-19 dashboard, which can be viewed on our website at www.ykhc.org/covid-19.
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.