The lower Yukon River community of Emmonak ended its lockdown on Oct. 12. The Tribal Council had implemented the two-week lockdown after a resident tested positive for COVID-19 late last month.
Addie Kameroff-Crane, Emmonak Tribal Office CARES Act Coordinator, said that the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation has not informed the tribe of any additional cases currently in the community. With the lockdown over, inter-village travel has resumed. All travelers are still required to have permission from the Emmonak Tribal Council to enter the community, and residents returning to the village must quarantine for two weeks.
Other Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities remain in lockdown. Earlier in October, Kasigluk and Kipnuk entered lockdown on the same day after a resident in each village tested positive for COVID-19. Kasigluk ended its lockdown on Oct. 13. Kipnuk remains in lockdown until at least Oct. 16.
Along the coast, Quinhagak is also locked down after YKHC confirmed community spread of the coronavirus in the village. Thirty-seven Quinhagak residents tested positive for the virus between Oct. 1-12.
Correction: This story originally said that Kasilguk was still in lockdown because of COVID-19. That is incorrect. The tribal council ended its lockdown on Oct. 13.