Three new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the Norton Sound region yesterday. Norton Sound Health Corporation is reporting two of those cases are suspected to be travel-related.
According to a press release from NSHC last night, two of the three patients are close contacts of each other. Out of that pair, one patient is a non-resident of the Norton Sound region.
The third positive case was identified as a resident of Teller.
NSHC says they have contacted community leaders in Teller and the health corporation plans to offer additional COVID-19 testing for local residents. NSHC is, “strongly encouraging at least one or two members of each household in Teller to get tested.”
All three COVID-19 patients are self-isolating at this time, although as of last night, the state of Alaska had not yet begun contact tracing with the individuals. Along with Wednesday’s positive case from a resident outside of the region, these three new cases bring the total to 15 in the Norton Sound region.
Nine of those cases are currently active while six have recovered.
Davis Hovey is a news reporter at KNOM - Nome.
Hovey was born and raised in Virginia. He spent most of his childhood in Greene County 20 minutes outside of Charlottesville where University of Virginia is located.
Hovis was drawn in by the opportunity to work for a radio station in a remote, unique place like Nome Alaska. Hovis went to Syracuse University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Broadcast Digital Journalism.
